Irene Johnson's Obituary
British Roots
Born on June 21, 1947 to Stephen and Eva Panting in Leafield, England, Irene was the eldest of three children. After graduating from high school, Irene met Robert (Bobby) Johnson in an air force base social club. The couple later married and relocated to Boston, MA where she became a devoted mother to five children. After 23 years together, the couple parted ways and Irene moved to Washington.
Culinary Genius
Irene was a tiny person with a huge appetite so it is no wonder that Thanksgiving was her favorite holiday—she loved a feast! The bliss she felt after dining at the Red Wind or Old Country Buffet was more than an appetite appeasement. Irene loved to share the buffet experience with her family. Fresh catfish caught by her in a local river was a family treat. She loved cooking—making mint sauce, Yorkshire pudding, custards, sausage rolls, and shepherds pie. She frequently watched cooking shows declaring, “I can make that – only mine will taste better!” To this day her friends are requesting the recipe for her memorable cheesecake. Irene drank tea all day with milk – just 3 drops to change the color. She preferred her tea hot and her chocolate cold, especially her Snickers bars that were carefully hidden at the back of the freezer.
Grandma’s School
A doting grandmother to nine, Irene loved ‘Nana’s school time’. She taught her precious grandchildren how to write their names and nursery rhymes she had learned from her own Nana. London was thrilled when she would take him to the car wash. Dayvion would call her ‘my sweetheart’. She was especially pleased to have recently met her last grandbaby.
Woke with the Sun
Bright and cheery like her favorite color yellow, Irene woke up daily at 5:30a.m., ready to go. She loved watching horror films, crime shows like ‘Criminal Minds’, sit-coms, cooking shows, home decorating and game shows. To keep her mind sharp, she would play card games on the computer. The casino connoisseur enjoyed playing penny slots too. ‘Reeny’, as her friends called her, loved music especially Motown and R&B.
Frick and Frack Irene was extremely close to her sister Elaine. As adults, the two loved to drive around looking at posh houses and outdoor lights at Christmas time. The sisters enjoyed telling a childhood story about the ‘borrowing’ of a Christmas tree. The two girls went down the hill to Kings Forest, selected and cut down a tree and took it home on a bike. Their mother said “oh, you bad girls—fine, bring it in!”
Creative Flair
It could be said that Irene had two green thumbs, growing flowers as well as vegetables and herbs for her kitchen. A capable artist, she had the ability to make anything, even a wooden headboard for a bed. She had drawing talent too, using charcoal for each family members’ portrait. A Ma to Reckon With Always very stylish and classy even wearing blue jeans, Irene loved her high heels—after all, they showed off her great legs! She loved vacations in the sun and, in order to get the best tan, she rubbed butter on her skin. The children picked out the material for the clothes she sewed for them. She was considerate and patiently taught manners and social graces to her children. If your eyebrows were messy, there was always the spit fix.
Although she hated being called ‘Ma’ because it sounded like sheep bleating, she became the neighborhood ‘Ma’. She could be feisty too. When the owner of a corner store in Boston wouldn’t serve her children because of their skin color, she marched down there and stood up for them, declaring her own war on racism. After that episode ‘our little English mom’ became ‘our little pit bull’!
“Chosen to be Part of God’s Heavenly Bouquet”
Irene passed away suddenly at the age of 64 from an unknown cause. She leaves behind her parents Stephen and Eva Panting, her siblings Raymond and Elaine; her children Derrick, Tamisha (Tammy), Matthew, Kimberly, and Brittany; their spouses; her ex-husband Robert (Bobby) Johnson and nine grandchildren.
What’s your fondest memory of Irene?
What’s a lesson you learned from Irene?
Share a story where Irene's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Irene you’ll never forget.
How did Irene make you smile?