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Irene was born in Philadelphia in 1909, a year after her parents arrived at Ellis Island from Romania.
Her father was a butcher by trade, and soon found a job. By 1912, Irene was joined by her sister Helen and her brother Harry. Before long, her Dad, following his brother out west, settled in Great Falls, Montana. When he had saved enough money, he sent for his wife, sister, and children.
Irene grew up in Conrad and Great Falls. She began attending Great Falls Commercial College before her father was killed in a work-related accident. Then she went to work for Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph Company, helping her family financially.
Sadly, her brother Harry was killed in the Philippines during World Was II. She was very close to him and missed him always.
It was at the telephone company that she met Fred Leistiko and eventually they married. Fred and Irene married life continued until Fred's death in 1976.
Several years later, Irene remarried to Lyle Reichman. However, Lyle died only one year later, in 1989.
Irene enjoyed her retirement years. They were spent gardening, traveling, quilting at the Senior Center, and crocheting, an art she learned from her mother. She also took pleasure in being with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Irene lived in her own home and managed her own affairs until January, 1998, when her health began to fail. She then moved in with her daughter Carol in Lake Stevens, Washington, who cared for her until her death later that year at age 89.
Late in life, Irene documented her recollections of her family history, and events in her early life.