WILMINGTON — Irene Mary Becker LaSlavic, 88, died Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017. She was born April 29, 1929, in Pittsburgh, Pa., to Andrew Joseph Becker and Catherine Magdelena Persohn.
She grew up as the second of six children in West View, Pa., into a family with a strong connection to nature and a love of animals, something she brought into every aspect of her life.
She was always the small one compared to her siblings but made the best of it — living up to her Dad’s declaration that “nice things come in small packages — like diamonds and pearls.” She was that perfect gem to Nicholas Matthew LaSlavic Jr., whom she married on June 9, 1951.
Irene and Nic traveled the world together during his 30-year U.S. Marine Corps career and retirement. She often described herself as a “camp follower,” and so she was…following him during tours in Hawaii, Korea, all over the Eastern U.S. coastal area, California and Nigeria. They finally retired to Wilmington, N.C., in 2004, but continued to travel to the mountains she loved, cruises and trips to Europe and South America, and visits to family on both coasts.
Even in the most unusual of living arrangements over the years, she managed to create an elegant home, using what her family called her “Pandora’s box,” and a beautiful garden designed to attract the local wildlife and provide endless amusement and joy for her family and friends.
She is survived by her husband of 66 years and best friend of over 76 years, Nic, and their two daughters, Mary Catherine Morel (Michael) and Elizabeth Anne King (Thomas). She will be deeply mourned and dearly missed by all those who knew and loved her, including her four grandsons, Justin VanSaghi, Brian, Brett and Sean King; granddaughter-in-law, Vlasta Adamovská King; and great-granddaughter, Victoria Elizabeth King. She is also survived by four of her siblings, Leona Edinger, Thomas Becker (Arlene), Andrew Becker (Barbara) and Richard Becker (Maureen); and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A memorial service will take place at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 19, at Coble Ward-Smith Funeral Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401; or Toys For Tots – Semper Fi.
Share online condolences with the family at coblewardsmithfh.com.
