Irene Groot, a born teacher, gifted writer, and explorer of ideas from today’s fashion to yesterday’s ancient philosophers, died of cancer at her Glen Arden home on Aug. 12.
Peter, Irene’s beloved husband for 45 years, cared for Irene throughout her months of illness.
In 2019, Irene and Peter moved from Almaden to The Villages. Irene edited the Catholic Column for The Villager Religion Page from 2021-2023. Irene encouraged those in The Villages Catholic Community to dig into the Sunday Scriptures, to pray about their meaning in their lives today, and to write about their reflections. With steady coaching for the writers, Irene built a cadre of 18 columnists ranging from a pre-Vatican II priest to a more recent convert to Catholicism.
Daughter of Arthur J. Colligan and Lucille Lawler, Irene was born in Santa Monica, CA. An only child, Irene credited her Aunts Mary and Janie for profoundly influencing her. Irene recalled her Aunt Janie teaching sewing to “the girl cousins.” These early sessions with scissors and thread led to Irene’s deep interest in dress design, liturgical vestments, and fabric art. Irene’s other interests included theology, history, and writing. For 39 years Irene taught history in middle schools in the Evergreen Elementary School District, and won several state-wide awards. Her students kept in touch and thanked Irene for her guidance and for setting rigorous academic standards. She wrote an Earthquake Preparedness Handbook for schools. Irene wrote a handbook for teachers preparing for the Administrative Credential exam; a handbook that continues to guide educators to move to their next career step. On a different plane, Irene wrote theological essays published in Carmelite Digest, Adoremus Bulletin, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review.
In 2016, Irene published “BioCube Escape,” available on Amazon. It is a dystopia run by slogans “Right angles make right thinkers.” Irene’s book was hailed as “an adept story, ‘BioCube Escape’ works as sci-fi, political treatise, mathematical irony, and adventure tale.”
Peter expresses gratitude for the food and support from his Glen Arden neighbors, cards and prayers from Irene’s Prayer Group, and the comforting presence of many in The Villages during the past five months. Irene’s Byzantine Catholic funeral mass will be held Saturday, Aug. 24 at 10 a.m. at St. Basil the Great Byzantine Church, 14263 Mulberry Dr., Los Gatos, CA. A celebration in the Villages is planned for September 14 at Foothill, 2 to 4 p.m.
