Our beloved mother, Irene Rosa Teal, sadly passed away on January 13, 2025 peacefully in her home. She was a wonderful and loving mother who was always there when we needed her offering support. She showed us grace, courage, compassion, and integrity. She loved us immensely and endlessly.

Irene was born in Karlsruhe, Germany on May 22, 1942. She grew up in difficult times being born during WWII, survived the war, and was a student in Germany’s Catholic schools.

She was first married to Richard Linfoot, with whom she had two daughters, Sandra and Melissa. Irene moved to the United States at the age of 21, and with Richard’s service in the US Army, she spent time in places including North Carolina, Texas, and Augusta, Georgia. They eventually separated and she moved to the Richland, WA area in 1984 where she remained thereafter.

Professionally, she was a master seamstress and dressmaker. She made custom clothing ranging from day-to-day wear, to pageant gowns, and people sought her out for her high quality craftsmanship, fashion designs, and caring nature.

She was incredibly artistic and loved to paint, often choosing bold vibrant colors and elaborately detailed designs. She enjoyed making paintings mirroring the styles and famous works of Van Gogh, drew inspiration from cave drawings in Lascaux, France, and created a wide variety of original compositions. Later in life she enjoyed helping her granddaughter Avery learn to paint and begin her artistic journey.

Irene loved to travel the world with family and friends, including trips to Germany where she grew up, and she introduced her children to other parts of Europe including Italy, France, Switzerland, and Austria. She also explored parts of South America including Ecuador, Peru, the Galapagos Islands, and Machu Pichu. She and her second husband Joseph frequently traveled all over the western United States taking road trips to places ranging from Montana to Arizona and New Mexico, usually accompanied by their Jack Russell terrier, Neddy.

In recent years Irene spent weekends with her daughters and grandkids shopping at the mall (she always had great style), eating at local restaurants, or visiting and enjoying a glass of wine. She had a deep bond with her family and was an incredibly devoted mother, daughter, and wife. She will leave an unfillable hole in the hearts of her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents Adolfo Jurk and Rosa Jurk, and her grandson Erik Urban, and is survived by: Joseph Teal (husband), Sandra Fies (daughter), Melissa Bond (daughter), David Teal (stepson), Mike Linfoot (son), Viktor Jurk (brother), grandchildren Dylan Fies, Avery Fies, Josephine Teal, John Teal, Michael Linfoot and Megan Draughn, as well as her niece, nephews and their children.