Irene Edith Neves, a resident of Warwick since 2001, passed away peacefully at 10:45 pm, November 5, 2014. She was 68 years old.
Born on May 27, 1946 , she was the daughter of the late Alfred and Irma (Heigel) Scheerer.
Irene moved to Warwick, NY from Allendale, NJ upon her retirement in June, 2003. Her work history after graduating from FDU in 1968 includes Caseworker for the Dept. of Social Services, Welfare Dept. in Harlem, NY. She left after a few years to travel Europe for several months. She then began work with the Bureau of Child Welfare, NYC. In 1986, she changed jobs to begin work with NYS Division of Parole, as a Parole Officer, first with juvenile offenders in the Bronx, then the adult population in Washington Heights. She always had a big heart for animals and during her many years as a field worker, she rescued many stray dogs and cats. She often came home with animals which she brought to her veterinarian and then found good homes for them, or if needed, she placed them in a no-kill shelter. She rescued and placed hundreds of animals and kept a few hard-to-place animals.
She loved Warwick and all the opportunities this area afforded to engage in sports. She was an avid skier, both downhill and cross country. She loved to swim, bike, kayak, horseback ride, and walk her dogs. Her hobbies were photography, reading, she dabbled in painting, and loved to garden. She liked to travel, and she was a member of two groups of the Red Hat Society.
Her beloved dog, Spunky, did not leave her bedside in the final month of her life.
Mrs. Neves is survived by her husband of 42 years, Cipriano Neves; her son, Cipriano of Allendale, NJ; two grandchildren: Abbie and Zoe; her sister, Peggy Linnartz and her husband Eddie; three nephews and several great nephews and nieces; one cousin, Dianna Warner- Collin; two sisters-in-law.
A celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, November 16th, from 11:00am – 1:00 pm at Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home, 17 Oakland Ave., Warwick, NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Warwick Valley Humane Society, PO Box 61, Warwick, NY 10990 or Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, 2 Shelter Lane, Oakland, NJ 07436 will be greatly appreciated.