Obituary of Irene Carthage

Irene Carthage was born on June 20, 1923 in Bethlehem, PA; the daughter of Christos and Kalliopi (Karastamathis) Carthage. She fell asleep in the Lord on Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at her home in Tulsa, OK at the age of 89. After high school she worked for the Bethlehem Steel as a secretary and then on Dec 23, 1943 she enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in Philadelphia, PA. She graduated from USMC A.M.M. School in El Toro, CA Marine Corps Air Station Dec 16, 1944. From 1944 until 1946, she served her country during World War II, with an honorable discharged as rank of Sergeant. Irene came to Tulsa to be a Pilot Simulation (Air Link) Instructor at Spartan School of Aeronautics. She continued giving private flying lessons and was Office Manager for Gleason Roman Aviation. Irene always wanted to own her own dress shop business so she went out on her own and opened Miss Carthage Dress Shop for approximately 25 plus years. One store was located in the Sheridan Village Shopping Center at Admiral & Sheridan and the second store in the Brook Plaza Shopping Center at 51st & Peoria. She was a longtime member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church where she sang in the choir, was a member of the Daughters of Penelope and the Megali Ellas (who raise and donate money to the Church). In her spare time she would work in her yard, visit friends in their home or nursing home and make crafts, filling them with goodies and giving them to her friends and loved ones. Irene became the first single woman in Oklahoma to adopt a child when she adopted her daughter, Maria, bringing her to America from Greece. Irene is survived by her daughter, Maria and her husband Lee Nelson of Broken Arrow; her granddaughter, Presbytera Angela and her husband Fr. Thomas Alatzakis of Minneapolis, MN; her sister, Mrs. Tess Athens of Bethlehem, PA; her brother, Nicholas Carthage and his wife Helen, of Bethlehem, PA; her nieces, Andrea Athens of Bethlehem, PA, Karen Stark of Wexford, PA and Renie Beidleman of Litiz, PA. In addition to her parents, and her brother-in-law George Athens, she was preceded in death by her grandson, Matthew Paul Nelson. Trisagion prayers will be said 6:00 p.m. Thursday in the Ninde Brookside Chapel. Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Friday in Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Interment will be made at the Cedar Hill Cemetery of Bethlehem, PA. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations can instead be made for the new Icon Screen at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1222 S. Guthrie, Tulsa, OK, 74119. The family would like to give a heartfelt thanks to Father Bill, Amy McCoy, Alice Costas, Bunny Bright, Rita Howell, Martha Metevelis, Athanasia Zaferes, Darlene & John Sakelaris, Stella Austin, Rob Sandlin, Carolyn with "Hope With Angels" , and "Angels Care Home Health" for their special care for Irene who was a special mom, YiaYia, sister, and friend. Also to her wonderful neighbors: Winfield's, Tiernan's, Johnson's, O'Leary's, and McGinnis families. May her memory be eternal.