Irena Garmus Rimavicius

Irena Garmus Rimavicius passed away on October 8, 2025, after an amazing life of 100 years.

Irena was born on December 12, 1924, in Penza, Russia. She grew up in Panemune, Lithuania, on the shores of the Nemunas River. She was one of five children born to Dr. Antanas and Sofija Garmus. Irena embraced the family’s work ethic, its practice of kindness to others, and joy for the simple things. They underpinned her life’s journey.

Irena learned early that chores came before fun. To tend to the family garden, her mother would line her children like firefighters to pass buckets of water to where she was grafting her latest creation. Her father, a physician, would see patients pro bono in their home before leaving for work. He, the spontaneous one, would wake the children to gaze at the stars, or for early morning plunges in the Nemunas. With her brothers, Jurgis and Mykolas and sisters Sofija (Liale) and Kunegunda (Tuse), she would race canoes, cross-country ski, and sleep outdoors during summer months. From the boy next door, she learned how to catch a fish with a kitchen fork and steal apples from a neighbor’s yard. She foraged for mushrooms with her mother, something that brought her great joy her entire life.

Irena attended an all-girl school in Kaunas where she made friends that lasted a lifetime. Friendships quilted her life. She valued conversations about books, current events, cultures in faraway places, or the latest inventions. As her high school years were waning, the cloud of World War II hung over head. Civic conversations became the mainstay in the Garmus home. Irena’s medical school studies at Vytautas Magnus University, were interrupted by the chaos of the war. She worked as a nurse at the Red Cross. In 1945, Irena, her sister Tuse and her parents fled Lithuania while the elder siblings chose to remain, a separation that would endure 30 years. Upon fleeing, Irena lived in Berlin, Frankfurt, and displaced persons camps in Germany. She rode her bike 20 km to the university. She was in Dresden with her father the day before it was bombed. He said, ‘No one would bomb such a beautiful city.’ The next day it was obliterated.

In November of 1949, Irena along with her parents and younger sister, arrived in the United States. She took various jobs, caring for the elderly in Utica, NY, and performing domestic jobs in the area to support her family. Eventually, the family relocated to Chicago where they were welcomed by many other Lithuanian war refugees and became a part of the immigrant fabric. She worked at the Brach candy factory packaging candy corn. After that, she could never look at a candy corn again.

In Chicago, Irena met her husband, Antanas Rimavicius. They shared a love for art, music and literature. Irena would help Antanas build models in architecture school. She would drive to pick him at the Art Institute where he spent the night installing new exhibits. One of her fondest memories was skipping down Michigan Ave. after a symphony concert at Orchestra Hall.

Irena and Antanas raised three children in Chicago’s Lithuanian neighborhoods. Lucia Egle, Mirga, and Aras. Irena balanced work and motherhood, but as the family grew, she focused on the children often with the help of her mother. She contributed her time to various Lithuanian organizations, including Varnas Montessori School, parent groups of Donelaitis Lithuanian school, Grandis Folk Dance group and others. Perhaps her favorite, was cooking at Rakas, the Lithuanian Scout camp in Michigan. When the nest became empty, Irena earned her real estate broker license. Each client represented a new problem for her to solve, and new issues to untangle and engage her mind. Eventually, she and Antanas built a home in Michiana Shores where she loved to spend her days and forage for mushrooms whenever she could.

Irena was a great mother. She instilled a healthy love for Lithuania, its history and traditions; sought out educational opportunities; and supported them on their adventures in life. She and Antanas would pack the station wagon with camping gear and explore their newly adopted country. She would say, ‘Let’s take the scenic route.’ Family gatherings, especially Thanksgiving were always a main stage event with room for anyone who might be on their own. She loved the conversations that lasted into the night, but insisted the dishes had to be done before going to bed. As a grandmother she spoiled her grandchildren, taking them to Toys R Us or having treats for them when they returned from school. In Michiana she took them to pick blueberries, made blueberry pancakes, and invited them to look for mushrooms. Dedicated to her family and large circle of friends, she remembered everyone’s birthday. During the holidays, she would send boxes of apples or oranges to those who were particularly helpful that year. And, if there was a milestone event in the family, she would send a Raguolis, Lithuanian Tree Cake, for the festivities.

Irena is lovingly remembered by her daughters Lucia Egle Garsys (Algimantas, deceased) and Mirga Rimavicius (Jeffrey Whittaker, deceased); and her treasured grandchildren Rima and Gytis Garsys, and Rasa and Paul Whittaker. She leaves behind her brother-in-law Vitalis Petrusis, nephew Michael Petruisis, nieces Tina Udrys and Virga Moshini, and their families as well as family and friends across the globe. She is preceded in death by her father Dr. Antanas Garmus, mother Sofija Garmus, husband, Antanas Rimavicius, son Aras Rimavicius, as well as siblings and other family members.

A Funeral Mass will be held on October 24, 2025, at the Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis Lithuanian Catholic Mission (Lithuanian World Center) 1491 E. 127th St. Lemont, IL 60439. Visitation will be from 9:30 am to 11:00 am, followed by Mass at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Aras Rimavicius Scholarship Fund. To share a memory of Irena or leave a special message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.