Irene Francis Lowry (Fitz)

Irene Francis Lowry, 87, or Rochester, MN died Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at The Homestead of Rochester.

Irene was born June 20, 1936, in Sisseton, South Dakota, to Lloyd and Margaret (Zimmerman) Fitz. On August 20, 1954, she married Kenneth W. Lowry in Pierre, South Dakota. The couple lived in New Jersey. Irene moved to Wisconsin in 1980 following the death of her husband. She worked as a factory worker for Thomas Industries until her retirement in 2001. Irene moved to Kasson, MN to be closer to her daughter.

On June 4, 2011, she married Everette L. Hettinger at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. The couple lived in Dodge Center, MN. After the death of her husband she moved to Rochester, MN.

Irene loved knitting, crocheting, quilting, playing cards, dominos, and completing hundreds of puzzles.

She is survived by her daughter, Kathryn (William) Frie of Rochester; 7 stepchildren, Eric (Noreen)Hettinger, Laura Schultz, Jenny (Chris) Scott, James (Joey) Hettinger, Christine (Nathan)Medina, Mark (Jaimi)Hettinger, Heidi Dieguez; brother, Robert (Priscilla) Fitz; sister-in-law Elsie Fitz and Elaine Fitz; numerous nieces, nephews, step grandchildren, and step great-grandchildren.

She is proceeded in death by her husband Kenneth, husband Everette; brothers Raymond and Donald; and her parents.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 4:00-6:00 p.m. August 4, 2023, in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home. Burial will be in Paramus, New Jersey at George Washington Cemetery on August 15, 2023.

The family wishes to thank everyone with Mayo Clinic Hospice and the Staff in memory care at The Homestead.