Irene Fox Uttendorfsky

Port Leyden – Irene Fox Uttendorfsky, wife of Rudolph F., passed away on Sunday, August 16, 2026, after a long illness, at Wynn Hospital, Utica, NY.

Irene was born on August 23, 1939, a daughter of Alfred Fox and Isabelle L. Olney Fox. at the Fox family Farm on the Norton Road, in the Town of Leyden. She attended Port Leyden Central School, graduating Salutatorian, with the Class of 1958. She went on to attend SUNY Plattsburg, graduating with the Class of 1962, with a BS Degree in Nursing. During her nursing career, she worked as a staff nurse in various hospitals in Massachusetts, New York and Michigan, because her husband, was serving in the military and he was often transferred to new locations. While living in Massachusetts, Irene became an Instructor of Nursing at Quincy Vocational Technical School, Quincy, Massachusetts, where she taught for several years.

While attending nursing school, Irene was united in marriage with First Class Engineman U.S. Coast Guard, Rudolph F. Uttendorfsky, on June 10, 1961, at St. Rita’s Church, at Long Island City, NY. Later, after living in Massachusetts, Irene and Rudolph relocated to Thomas road, near Port Leyden, where they constructed a home and had since resided. After returning to the Port Leyden area, Irene was employed as a nurse at ARC, Lewis County Hospital and Lewis County Public Health, before retiring from her nursing career and beginning a new career as a writer.

Over the years, Irene was a prolific writer of children’s books and received many awards of her writing.

She was a member of St. Joseph’s church, Boonville, a 30 year member of the General Floyd Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a member of the Martinsburg Historical Society and an avid supporter of the Boonville Canal Museum.

In addition to all of her accomplishments, Irene had a lifelong deep involvement in Genealogy. She was a member of many States Genealogical Societies and spent endless hours compiling historical and genealogical information on family members, dating even back to the Pilgrims. Irene enjoyed a life well lived and was loved and will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

In addition to her husband of sixty five years, Rudolph, Irene is survived by a son Robert and daughter in law, Melissa Uttendorfsky, Lowville and a daughter, Susan Uttendorfsky, Port Leyden; four grandchildren, John (Shannan) Uttendorfsky, Oswego, Adnrew Uttendorfsky, Lowville, Alex Van Meter, Tullahoma, TN, Rebecca Van Meter and her fiancée, Michael Sherman, West Carthage, NY and three great grandchildren, Mason and Lylah Gross, West Carthage and Joseph Uttendorfsky, Oswego. Irene was the last of a family of ten brothers and sisters. She was predeceased by siblings, Marian, Evelyn, Flora, Dorothy, Alfred, Harold, Glenn, Karl and Ronald.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian burial on Friday, August 21, 2026, at 11:00 A.M. at St. Joseph’s Church, Charles St. Boonville, where Rev. Thomas Ward will be the celebrant. Interment will follow in Boonville Cemetery. There are no calling hours. Her arrangements are in care of Trainor Funeral Home, Inc. 143 Schuyler St. Boonville.