Irene Abrams

Irene Couch Mills Abrams left this world on Tuesday December 23, 2025 at the age of 97 from her and her daughter's home.  She died due to congestive heart failure.  This obituary is to honor her life.  She was born in Brookfield, MO January 8, 1928, to Edward D and Ida Lillian Couch, née Gosney.  She attended school in Brookfield.  She and my father Everett Mills, he later became Dr. Everett Mills, were united in marriage on June 5, 1946.  They lived in Brookfield, Omaha NE, and in the Los Angeles area of southern California.  While in California they had 4 children. Brenda Joanne b1949 d 1953, Laura Jean 1955 to present, Curtis Ray b1958 d 1958 and Thomas Everett b1961 d2019.  Dr. Everett Mills died in 1962, and Irene, Laura and Tom moved back to Irene's hometown to be closer to her parents.  She found love again and on October 29, 1964, she and Lester Abrams were married. He instantly became Laura and Tom's beloved Daddy.  In 1973 a family decision was made to move to California.  Lester, Irene and Tom went; Laura stayed in Missouri where she was already enrolled in college.  Irene loved southern California.  Her hobby there as it was in Missouri was bowling, in both women's leagues and with her husband in mixed leagues.  She also enjoyed going to the beach once a week with the bowling friends from the mixed league to have an evening picnic and sit around the bonfire visiting.  In either 1983 or 1984 she and Lester moved back to Brookfield to be near her elderly mother. Tom was in Washington D.C. by then and Laura was in New Orleans, so it was just Lester and she that made the move.  They settled back into small town life, but she grew bored.  Therefore, she went back to work part time as Christmas help at Walmart.  From there she went on to be the relief person in every department and eventually became the personal manager.  She loved her job so much she didn't retire until she was in her 70's.  After her mother died it wasn't long before she and Lester decided to move to the Springfield MO area to be closer to Laura and her sister Rosie and Rosie's husband Laurel.  Lester and she ended up in Rogersville just outside of Springfield.  She was active at the Senior Center and the Rogersville United Methodist Church.  Oh, how did I forget that in both Brookfield and Rogersville her hobby was BINGO!!!  In 2005 Laura moved to Washington MO and Irene and Lester were going to follow her.  Before their house was sold Lester lost his battle with Multiple Myeloma.  It then took Irene a couple of years to get the house sold and get moved.  She first lived in an apartment but moved into her condo after a year.  Upon her arrival in Washington, she began playing cards at the Senior Center and found bingo at the Elks in Pacific MO where in both places she made friends quickly.  While in Brookfield she made a couple of trips to first Washington DC and then NYC to visit with Tom for a few weeks at a time. After Lester died and once grandchildren were involved and Tom had moved to New Jersey it turned into a couple of months at a time.  She played bingo there as well.  Irene loved her granddaughters, Iraina and Faith.  She continued this routine until Tom divorced and temporarily moved to Washington MO on his way to Florida. In February of 2022 Irene left her condo and moved to an apartment built for her in Laura's home.  She continued with her cards and bingo until her health deteriorated and she could no longer go out for these activities.  It was possible for her pinochle friends to come to Irene's to play for a few weeks and then even that was too much for Mom to handle. Thankfully her not being able to play didn't happen too long before her death.  Thanks in part to Mercy Hospice and help from many of Mom's friends I was able to keep her here with me as she had wished.  I realize this isn't a conventional obituary, but since my Mom was never conventional that should surprise no one.  She is survived by me her daughter Laura Duerbeck, her sister Rose Reid of Springfield MO, Granddaughters Iraina Sabella- Mills of NYC and Faith Sabella-Mills of Schenectady NY, Nephews Ed and J and their families, special ex neighbor Barbara, her pinochle friends Juanita, Sue, Allen, Leroy and Teresa, her bingo group Dan, Sharon, Pat, Ruthie, Dorothy, Catherine, Cathy, Virginia, Linda and JoAnn, her Cribbage Club friends Janet, Bill, Gail, Dennis, Kit, Faye, Bob, Dave, John and Brian.  If I've forgotten anyone, I'll ask for forgiveness ahead of time.  Thank you all for being such good friends to my Mom.  She loved you all.

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