A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date for 98-year old Delores Irelan of Sterling, Colo, a former Chadron resident and Chadron State College graduate and employee
Memorial contributions are encouraged to the Delores Irelan Scholarship Fund c/o Chadron State College, 1000 Main St., Chadron, NE 69337
Online condolences may be made at tennantfuneralhomes.com
Delores Y. Irelan was born Feb. 25, 1922 in Ordway, CO, to Jackson Mires Cox and Ollie Mae Cover Cox. She passed away Jan. 26, 2021.
Delores graduated from high school in Ordway, CO, in May, 1940, then moved to Sterling, CO. She was united in marriage with Virgil E. Irelan on Jan 25, 1944 at Sharon Springs, KS.
The family was transferred to Chadron in 1947 and where Dolores subsequently attended what is now Chadron State College, receiving a B.A. degree in Education in 1960.
She was then employed as the secretary to the president of Chadron State until Oct 1968 when the family moved to Arizona. They moved back to Sterling in March 1973 and was employed at the Sterling branch of Colorado National Bank until her retirement April 13, 1984.
Delores was a member of the Grace Episcopal Church in Chadron, a charter member of the Chadron State College Foundation, a past president of the Chadron State College Alumni Association.
She was also a member of the Chi Omega Sorority, Sigma of American Association of University Women, and the order of the Eastern Star Chapter #60 Chadron.
Delores was preceded in death by her husband Virgil E. Irelan, mother and father, three sisters, and five brothers.
She is survived by 2 nephews and 5 nieces.
Delores was an amazing woman. Her kind and giving heart and loving soul made her so special. She was also very devoted to God. This poem is her message to all her friends and family.
Afterglow
I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one.
I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when day is done.
I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways,
Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days.
I’d like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun;
Of happy memories that I leave when life is done.
By Helen Marshall
A special thank you to the 2nd floor nurses and staff at SRM for all their kindness and the excellent care they provided for Delores.
Tennant Funeral Home and Crematory of Sterling is in charge of arrangements for Dolores Irelan.