Flemington, NJ -- Irene S. Arch, 88, of Kingwood Township, NJ, passed away early Saturday morning, March 30, 2013 at her home with her loving family by her side from a multitude of complications from congestive heart failure.

Irene was a generous woman, kind hearted, and a hard worker throughout her lifetime and will be remembered by many people. Irene was born in Newark, NJ on August 5, 1924 daughter to the late Leon Koscinski and Jadwiga (Jaszczor) Koscinski. She was also predeceased by her husband of twenty years, Alexander A. Arch, in 1974, and by her brother Stanley Koscinski and sister Leona Konopka.

Irene attended Newark and Irvington public schools before entering the field of music. She was a member of the Amato Opera Company in New York City. She married Alexander in 1954
and later moved from Irvington, NJ to Kingwood, NJ in 1961 until the present. Irene first worked at the CarSkin Products in Milford before working at MEI (Magnesium Elektron Inc.) in Kingwood as an accountant for seventeen years before retiring. She kept herself busy in life raising and being involved with her daughter. She was an active member and affiliate of the Locktown and Grandview Granges respectively for over twenty-five years. She was a member of Our Lady of Victories Church for fifty-two years and enjoyed her early years singing in the choir. Irene was a leader of her daughter's Girl Scout troop and Recreational softball coach. She was a bowler for many years on the Monday Night Mixed and Thursday Night Foxy Ladies at the West Hunterdon Lanes in Frenchtown.

Irene is survived by her daughter, Carolynne Arch Steele and her companion Keith Reed; her granddaughter, Erica Steele; nieces, Joan Blair of Delaware, Teresa Moroney and her husband Ed and son Ryan of Denville; a great niece, Dawn Blair of Delaware and her three children, John, Dylan, and Audrey.

Irene, "Babci" was well known by many for her beautiful singing voice, cooking skills, dancing, and sewing ability. In her elder years her hobbies were reading books, doing crossword puzzles, donating to animal refuges, reading the Sunday comics, and traveling around with her family. As we celebrate Irene, many thanks to all friends and family who were a part of her life through the years and made it special for her.

Family and friends are invited to attend visitation at Countryside Funeral Home, 724 Route 202 North, Three Bridges, NJ 08887 on Sunday, April 7, 2013 from 3-7 p.m. and on Monday, April 8 from 8:15 – 8:45 a.m.

Funeral services will begin at 8:45 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by a 10:00 a.m. funeral liturgy at Our Lady of Victories Roman Catholic Church, 1005 Route 519, Baptistown, NJ 08803. Committal words and burial will follow at St. Magdalen Cemetery in Flemington. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Irene's memory to the Hunterdon Hospice, 2100 Wescott Drive, Flemington, NJ 08822, (908) 788-6600, www.hunterdonhealthcare.org or to the Hunterdon SPCA, 576 Stamets Road, Milford, NJ 08848, (908)-996-2525.