Blanche Lilian Jerige

Blanche Lilian Jones Irwin Jerige

 Blanche Lilian Jones Irwin Jerige, 97, of Abilene, Texas, beloved mother and friend, passed away peacefully Wednesday morning, August 21, 2024.

 A Memorial Service will be held at 11 A.M., Monday, September 9th at the Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander Street, Abilene, Texas. Interment to follow immediately at the Church.

 Blanche liked to think of herself as just an ordinary person, always willing to lend a hand or offer advice. Blanche was born in Rhosnessney, Wrexham, Wales, in the United Kingdom to Aubrey and Lili Partington Jones on June 13, 1927. Blanche was 12 when the Second Great War (WWII) broke out, and turned 18 the summer it ended.

 In the 1950s, Blanche met and married George Irwin in Wales and then a few years later the family moved to the United States. After losing their infant daughter, Amanda, George also passed away suddenly. Blanche was left with two small children and decided to stay with her sister Kathy and husband Joe Wolaver for a few years, ending up in Reno, Nevada. It was in Reno where Blanche met and married her second husband, Gus Jerige. Two short years later, Gus also suddenly passed away, leaving Blanche now with 4 small children. After Gus’s death, Blanche decided to once again follow her sister Kathy and husband Joe to Texas. In 1962, the families moved to Abilene, Texas, where Blanche made her home for over 60 years. 

 Blanche single-handedly raised 4 college-educated children, both literally as well as figuratively. She believed education was the best way to achieve the American Dream, and the prevailing reason why she remained in her adopted country. Staying true to her British heritage, however, Blanche never gave up drinking a “good cup of tea” and made sure she and her children made the pilgrimage to “the sea” every summer, enjoying every beach on the Texas coast throughout the years.

 A daughter of Wales, the Land of Song, one of Blanche’s favorite hymns was Song of the Saints of God. Blanche worshiped at and served as the receptionist for the Church of the Heavenly Rest for over 30 years, and after retiring continued to volunteer with Heavenly Rest for another 25 plus years. She considered working with the different rectors and the close staff a privilege as they became dear friends. 

 Blanche volunteered for decades as the bookkeeper for Heavenly Rest’s Thrift House, as well as in St. Margaret’s Guild and Altar Guild. She co-founded an Investment Club, Ante-Up, with 11 other women. In the 1970s, Blanche and Kathy learned how to line dance, and spent the next 30 years dancing and volunteering to perform around town with a group of other women. Blanche also enjoyed over 60 years of friendships with other British women in the TBPA British Wives Club, serving as President and Treasurer often over the decades. 

Blanche was preceded in death by her parents Lili and Aubrey Jones, daughter Amanda Irwin, husband George Irwin, husband Gustave Jerige, sister and her husband Kathy and Joe Wolaver, brother in law Peter Brown, nephew Josh Wolaver, and nephew David Wolaver. 

 Blanche is survived by her children Kathleen Irwin Kiefer of Abilene, Diane and Aubrey Irwin of Abilene, Kimberly Jerige of Fort Worth, Barbara and Andrew Jerige of Houston, her sister Ann Partington Morris of Wrexham, Wales, her grandchildren George Irwin, Patrick Kiefer, Lauren Jerige, Ashley and Josh Ihle, Nick Jerige, Elena and BJ Barton, Ashley and David Kinard, twelve loving great grandchildren, her nieces and nephews Janet Morris and Paul Brown, Lorraine and Jason Morris, Blanche and David Bounds, Terri and Mike Wolaver, Paul Bounds, and Caroline Wolaver, and five grandnephews. 

 The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Meals On Wheels, Soup Sisters at Church of the Heavenly Rest, or the charity of your choice.

Blanche lived a long, full life, and believed the world is bright with the joyous saints who love to do God’s will. You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea, in church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea; for the saints of God are just folk like her… a not-so-ordinary person who will be missed extraordinarily!