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Death in our diocesan family: Irma Schemitsch Jubilee

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Jane Jubilee and her sister Lisa with their Mom, Irma.With sadness we share the news of the death of Irma Schemitsch Jubilee, 81, on December 29, 2021. She was the stepmother of diocesan staff member Jane Jubilee, who called her Mom.

(Photo: Jane Jubilee and her sister Lisa with their Mom, Irma.)

Irma was born in the Gottschee region of the former Yugoslavia on October 3, 1940, the second of five children of Josef Schemitsch and Maria Yaklitsch. Her family, forced to flee their ancestral homeland, remained close through many challenges. Irma survived a near deadly case of spinal meningitis and coma at the age of six. Despite that illness and injury that trapped her in an upper body cast, she grew into a beautiful, statuesque young lady. Irma always worked hard and loved being a good daughter and protective big sister. Not one to reminisce much, Irma did share rare experiences of good times in her youth including being quite a good polka dancer.

At the age of 19 she emigrated to the United States, joining cousins in New York. Here in the States, she studied fashion and interior design before going to work as a governess for television talent scout Buddy Page, whose two children Pat and Jody still consider Irma a strong mother figure.

After helping to raise Jody and Pat, Irma went to work for National Starch and Chemical Corporation in Plainfield. From that job experience some of her long-term friendships still remain. Without question the most important relationship she developed at National was the bond she had with a successful chemist, Mr. Benjamin Douglass Jubilee, Jr. A widower eleven years her senior with three children, Benjamin came into Irma’s life with life experiences and cultural differences that challenged the couple. But despite those differences, Ben and Irma fell deeply in love. They married on August 15, 1970. Irma married into a ready-made family and was full-time mother to Benjamin's three children Glenn, Jane and Lisa. Irma never had children of her own, and proudly claimed Glenn, Jane and Lisa as her own with love and pride that only intensified through life.

In addition to her husband and their three children, Irma is survived by her youngest brother, Josef Schemitsch, and his wife Heidi, of Austria; by dozens of nieces, nephews, and cousins here in the United States and in Europe; and by countless friends and colleagues who treasure memories of her sweet generous nature and sunny smile.

Due to COVID restrictions and other circumstances, a memorial service is postponed to the Spring.

You can read Irma's full obituary and leave condolences here.

God, our Father, we thank you that you have made each of us in your own image, and given us gifts and talents with which to serve you. We thank you for Irma, the time we shared with her, the good we saw in her, the love we received from her. Now give us strength and courage, to leave her in your care, confident in your promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.