Irmgard J. Lyautey

Irmgard J. Lyautey “beloved wife, mother, and Omi”

SHINGLEHOUSE, Pa.---Irmgard J. Lyautey of Shinglehouse, PA, passed away in the Olean General Hospital, Olean, N.Y., with her family by her side on Monday, January 31, 2022, at the age of 82, following complications of kidney failure and sepsis.

     Beloved wife of 63 years to Frank Jules Lyautey, mother of Henry Lyautey, Wanda West, and Edith Heilig, Irmgard is survived by seven grandchildren; Thomas and Nicole Hamon, Spencer and Abi Heilig, Frankie Weatherly, Lauren Cain and Daniel Lyautey, as well as five great-grandchildren, Kora, Willa, Nick, Avron and Ariya. Daughter of the late Baron Kurt and Ellinor von Kleist, sister to Kurt von Kleist Jr, Harry von Kleist, and the late Wendt von Kleist, Freddy von Kleist, and Erika Kazmierski; Irmgard is also survived by nieces and nephews.

     Born in Riga, Latvia on June 2, 1939, Irmgard immigrated to Pennsylvania after the war in 1956. In order to become a US citizen in 1961, she was required to give up her title of Baroness, something she never regretted. Irmgard was a lover of baking and knitting and spent her days making streusels and other German baked goods to give to the townspeople, her grandchildren’s teachers at Oswayo Valley, and anyone she knew and loved. Irmgard was most commonly referred to as “Omi” or “Oma” meaning “Grandma” in German. Omi was a regular at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Shinglehouse, PA and lived a life spent serving the Lord. She enjoyed reading, going to tea shops with her granddaughter Nicole, and hiding chocolates to eat when her husband Frank wasn’t looking. Omi was a grandmother figure to all those that knew her. Her quick wit and sense of humor could get a whole room full of people laughing. If there’s one thing that Omi taught us all, it would be to not take life so seriously. Spend your days laughing and love with all that you have.

     A special thank you to the staff (Sam, Jane, Jamie, Nancy, Karen) of Sena Kean Manor in Smethport, PA and DaVita dialysis center in Bradford, PA for the gracious care of Irmgard over the past couple years. Also, thank you to all friends, family, and members of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church (Father Tom, Laura Quinn) for your endless love and unwavering support.

     A memorial Mass will be celebrated in St. Theresa Catholic Church in Shinglehouse, on a date and time to be announced.

     In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Theresa’s Catholic Church PO Box 277, Shinglehouse, PA 16748.

     Irmgard’s family has entrusted her care and cremation arrangements to Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse.

     To express condolences, light a candle, or share a fond memory of Irmgard, please visit www.virgillhowardfuneralhome.com or the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home Facebook page.