Irene K. Switlik, 95, died on Sunday, May 22, 2016 at her home in Hightstown, NJ. Born in Trenton on January 24, 1921 to Henry and Emily Kanicki, Irene graduated from Trenton Central High School in 1938. She was a lifelong area resident and lived in Trenton, Allentown, Lawrenceville and Hightstown and spent summers in Seaside Park, NJ and winters in Marathon, FL. Her impeccable style and elegance was without compare and she was an accomplished chairwoman and hostess of many notable social events.

Irene's parties and events were legendary and her flair for decorating and organization were ahead of her time. She was the chairwoman of the birthday celebration for President Lyndon B. Johnson held at the 1964 Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City; organized a spur of the moment luncheon at Island Beach State Park during the Glassboro Summit for First Lady Ladybird Johnson, Soviet Premier Alexi Kosygin's daughter and Betty Hughes, wife of Governor Richard J. Hughes; and was the chairwoman of New Jersey's Salute to Trenton Tercentenary New Year's Eve Ball. She served on numerous boards and committees including the Union Industrial Home for Children, The Peddie School Mothers' Association, The William Trent House and the Seaside Park Yacht Club. She was also the chairwoman of the gala reopening of Ellarslie, the Trenton City Museum. Her love of gardening and design was recognized in her winning entries in the Philadelphia Flower Show and in her many roles within the Trenton chapter of the Garden Club of America. Prior to her marriage to Richard Switlik Sr., she was the craft director at the YWCA Day Camp.

Predeceased by her husband of 62 years, Richard Switlik Sr.; her son, Gregory Switlik Sr. and siblings, Henry Kanicki and Phyllis Kanicki Rudko, Irene is survived by her children; Richard Switlik Jr. and wife, Mary Ann of Allentown, Stanley Switlik II and wife, Pamela of Pennington and Nancy Switlik Vaga and husband, Tonis of Brielle; her grandchildren, Kassia Switlik Bukosky, Gregory Switlik Jr., Alexandra Vaga, Heather Switlik Scholes, Maie Liis Vaga, Henry Spencer Switlik, Sarah Dann Switlik and Richard Switlik III; great grandchildren Eleanor, Hannah, Katherine, Noah, Aidan, Eevi, Greer and Ema; her nieces, Emily Rudko Keiser Segreto and Michelle Elter.

Friends are invited to celebrate Irene's life on Tuesday, May 31 from 4-6 pm at Peppler Funeral Home, 114 S. Main St., Allentown. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, please plant a flower or tree in your garden in her memory or make a contribution to Womanspace, Inc., 1530 Brunswick Ave., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 www.womanspace.org