Beatrice "Bea" Evelyn (Lawrence) Irminger

The hearts of many were saddened by the passing of Beatrice Irminger on June 10, 2026 at her Pittsburgh home at Providence Point, with her family by her side. She was 94.

"Bea was born in La Grange, IL, but her parents had settled in Wauwatosa, WI before the start of WWII. They moved between domestic army bases throughout the war, as her father was called to duty to protect the homeland. After the war, the family resumed their life in “Tosa,” and Bea entered the University of Wisconsin, to graduate with a degree in Journalism and a minor in French.
It was at college on a blind date that she met Eugene Irminger of Eagle, Idaho. They were immediately smitten and enjoyed a happy marriage of 47 years that ended in 2000 with Gene’s death. They moved several times during their life together, with lengthy stays in Indianapolis, Boise, and Lincoln, NE, but ultimately settling in 1978 in Lake Forest, IL. Bea loved their home and life in Lake Forest and made a hard decision to move away after 31 years there. In 2009, she resettled at the Providence Point retirement community, close to her daughter’s family in Pittsburgh. 
Bea and Gene raised three children, and Bea chose to be a homemaker for the busy family. She also stayed very involved in all the communities in which she lived, holding offices or taking leadership roles in a wide range of organizations. Those who knew Bea, with her big smile and engaging conversation, may be surprised to know that she considered herself an introvert. She said she had to push herself to overcome her inherent shyness to join new activities every time the family moved, but she knew this would help her settle into a new place and make friends. She got energy and joy from her friendships and treasured her friends.
Bea was endlessly curious and well-read on myriad topics, but her three passions stand out. She loved classical music and opera and could listen entranced for hours. It was amazing to see her listen for just a couple minutes to a piece of music on the radio and immediately know the name of the work, the composer, and often the movement. (Her memory about everything was quite remarkable.) She was also fascinated by geology since her youth and was an impressive amateur geologist. Not only did she prize her rock collection, but she also loved road trips across the U.S. where she could study the topography, the changes of the earth, and, in particular, the formations of mountains and lakes. Finally was her passion for genealogy; she researched and documented her family history for most of her adult life. She never bored of it, as each new name she uncovered led to more interesting history and life stories to discover. Her journalism training made her very disciplined. She strictly documented facts and identified conjectures as such – and she made it known that any future additions to her work should follow the same practice!
Above all, Bea’s life was shaped by her incredible love and devotion to her family. She never left any doubt that she prioritized Gene and their children above all else. She offered tender care and wise guidance, and she created a happy family filled with laughter and love. She is survived by her children and their spouses: Charles and Lori Irminger of Thomson, GA, Steven and Kathy Irminger of Concord, NC, and Betticlare and Kenji Shimada of Pittsburgh, PA; eight grandchildren and their spouses/fiancé; and 12 great-grandchildren. She will be dearly missed."

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a contribution to your favorite charity; or, for Bea, pick up a pretty rock and look at it closely; or, as she entreated all, write up even a single page of your family history to share with your children.  

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