Irene Krieger's Obituary
Irene Krieger (née Stoller), daughter of Nathan and Florence Stoller, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on July 24, 2025. Born on June 18,1925 in New York City, Irene was the devoted wife of the late Albert J. Krieger, with whom she shared a long, loving marriage and five children. She was the matriarch of a large close-knit family, always appreciated for her strength, grace, and devotion to those she loved.
Irene and Albert met in the student lounge at New York University, where she was studying occupational therapy. Theirs was an inspirational love story. They married in 1946 and remained deeply connected until Albert’s death in May 2020. They demonstrated that love and laughter are foundational to a long-lasting relationship. They lived life to the fullest, finding humor in almost every situation. Irene was fiercely loyal and proud of her whole family, frequently reminding friends and colleagues that Albert and all of her children were “perfect.”
For a short time, Irene was an elementary school teacher. She loved teaching, but ultimately chose to focus on running her very busy household. Dinner was served to the family each night in the dining room, at a beautifully set table, with multiple courses, but there was no stiff formality in Irene’s home. Instead, conversation at the dinner table was lively, fun, informative and educational.
Irene was talented in a variety of areas. She was a very skilled seamstress and loved to sew, often designing exquisite, unique gowns for special occasions. She relished the creative arts, especially musical theater. She enjoyed dancing and had a beautiful singing voice. She was an avid reader and she and Albert shared a common love for travel, exploring the world into their late eighties.
She strongly believed in social justice and fully supported Albert’s commitment to his career in criminal defense. She made sure that their children were imbued with the same core values of democratic citizenship, and then, when the children grew up, she became an indispensable member of Albert’s team professionally. She accompanied him to the courtroom for decades.
When Irene became a grandmother she was re-named “Gabu”-- a name she wore with honor as she forged close relationships with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. They, along with many other beloved family members, including treasured nieces and nephews, gathered from near and far this past June, to help her celebrate her 100th birthday. She was happy and beautiful and full of life on that special day, just barely one month ago.
She is survived by her five children: Seth Krieger (Kathy Peres), Claudia Lewis (Neal Lewis), Kathy Streeter (Martin Streeter), Luise Martin (David Martin), and Jared Krieger (Deidre Saunders); her cherished grandchildren: Kameron Lewis Lewin (Seth Lewis Levin), Zachary Lewis (Meleina Mayhew), Nina Lewis (Jeran Kamnorit), Tyler Martin, Nicholas Martin, Ari Streeter, Nate Streeter, Mikella Krieger, and Samantha Krieger; and her adored great-grandchildren: Sydney Lewis Levin, Elijah Lewis Levin, Ava Lewis Levin, Malakai Kamnorit, and Sebastian Kamnorit.
Irene’s love, wisdom, and enduring spirit will live on in each of them. Irene will be profoundly missed; her natural warmth combined with her natural elegance truly made her one of a kind.
A private family service was held to honor her life.
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