Irene Elizabeth Comstock

Irene Elizabeth Smith was born July 2, 1930, in Detroit, Michigan, to Frank and Miriam Smith, and was followed by brother Richard and sister JoAnn. Spending her early years in Detroit, Irene grew to love the Motor City. When Irene was 13 years old her family moved to Cass City, a much more rural town compared to Detroit, where her father Frank began his pastoring career. While in Cass City Irene grew to love gardening and horses, twin loves she would have for the rest of her life.

After three years in Cass City, the Smith family returned to Detroit where Frank took up the pastorate of Berkett Baptist Church and Irene completed her high school education cheering the Black and Orange of Eastern High. This was shortly after the end of World War II, and Irene fondly remembered how the youth group at Berkett consisted of both teenagers and recently returned service members in their 20's. They enjoyed many outings together and more than one marriage resulted from those youth group years at Berkett. Irene remained close to many of her Berkett friends for the remainder of her life.

In 1955 Irene began working in the cafeteria at the Chrysler Corporation.  A handsome man began making repeated trips through her register line to pay for an ever growing assortment of food. Eventually this handsome man asked her out on a date, and her courtship with Chester Comstock began. Chet and Irene were married on March 24, 1956, during an intense early spring snowstorm. She was convinced no-one would brave the blizzard to be there. But she was wrong, and many friends and relatives were there to witness this happy union.

Daughters Kristin and Gayle arrived in 1958 and 1959, and then two sons followed, Brett in 1962 and Brian in 1965. After several shorter-term residences, the family eventually settled in Westland, where she made their family home for the next 60 years, until Irene moved to assisted living about two years ago.

Irene was the quintessential involved mom. She was a permanent fixture at school PTA meetings and many other volunteer opportunities, while chauffeuring the children to band, theater, sports, and other events too numerous to mention. She sacrificed many a weekend sitting for hours at swim meets to watch her boys swim in races for only a couple minutes.

She made it a point to know her children's friends, to know their teachers and principals, and was always their biggest cheerleader. She was equally involved at Calvary Baptist Church where the family attended. Through the years she taught Pioneer Girls and was involved for decades in the Mary/Martha women’s circle to support missionaries in the field, writing hundreds of cards and letters to encourage missionaries and their families. When cleaning out her house last year, her children found multiple bags of empty cards ready to be addressed to missionaries all over the world. In her later years she also enjoyed monthly meetings and outings with the senior adults' “Jet Set” at church.

Irene was a bold woman who knew what she wanted and how she thought things ought to be done. This allowed her to be a reliable “do-er.” She was the one who could make things happen. She loved planning family holiday parties, birthday parties, Sunday dinners, and vacations with various adult children. Probably her favorite place in all the world was the family cottage in Port Lambton, Ontario, where she spent many peaceful summer days for the majority of her life. Family meant everything to Irene, and the cottage was a wonderful gathering place for all the relatives.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband Chet, her sister JoAnn, brother in law Wayne, sister in law Lois, and grandsons Christopher and Andrew. She is survived by her brother Dick, daughter Kristin (Kevin) Mosblech, daughter Gayle Plotkowski, son Brett (Pam), son Brian (Dawn), grandchildren Aaron, Derek, Cody, Kendyl, Garrett, Grace, Gabe, Luke, and Caleb, as well as 5 great-grandchildren, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was dearly loved and will be deeply missed.

Family and friends may visit the Schrader-Howell Funeral Home, 280 South Main Street, Plymouth, Michigan on Saturday, March 22, 2025 from 1:00 P.M. until the start of the Funeral Service at 5:00 P.M.

Irene will be laid to rest alongside her husband Chet at McDonald Cemetery in Port Lambton, Ontario.