Irene Janice (Brown) Sohm

Irene Janice (Brown) Sohm, age 78, of Albuquerque, NM, died quietly on August 4, surrounded by her loving family after a brief illness. She was the beloved wife of the late Robert Sohm and loving mother of Christopher of Lubbock Tx and Carl Sohm and his wife Roberta of Albuquerque. Irene is also survived by five grandchildren, Noah, Robert, Jessica (Yara), Steven and Daniella, as well as three beloved great-grandchildren, Hazel, Luke and Landon Yara, as well as her brother Vernon Brown of Arlington MA.

Born in Philadelphia, PA to Walter and Helen (Zienklewicz) Brown, Irene spent her childhood in Oakford and Holland, PA where she enjoyed ice skating and bicycle riding. After graduating from Council Rock High School in Newtown, PA, she married Robert Sohm of Lubbock, TX in 1964. When her husband, Robert left the Air Force, they settled in Grand Prairie, Texas where they raised their family and began a long affiliation with the area around Stephenville TX, a place to relax on weekends and vacations. Irene loved animals and cared for many dogs and cats while also caring for her two growing boys, holding down a job with LTV and earning an Associates of Arts degree from Mountain View Community College in Dallas.

After Robert retired from the Texas Air Guard, they purchased land in Dublin TX and built a farm, where for many years, they raised cattle and lived a quiet life. As a result of an automobile accident when she was young, Irene had multiple back operations, the last of which, when she was 63 years old, left her with limited mobility. Her recovery, through physical therapy at Tarleton State College's Laboratory for Wellness and Motor Behavior, was memorialized in the book "After Everybody Else Gave Up') by Joe Priest, and the chapter devoted to Irene demonstrated her enormous grit, determination and faith in herself and in God. Irene recovered her ability to walk, although in her later years, she used the aid of a walker and wheelchair.

Irene moved to independent living at Paloma Landing in Albuquerque after the Covid epidemic abated and was extremely happy there, being near her family and surrounded by people and activities in a metropolitan area with modern health facilities. She still was able to be around dogs and cats and carried dog treats in her walker for her small friends. She loved the vista of mountains and the balloon festival, visible from her balcony, as well as the birds that nested outside. Most of all, she liked cooking for herself, doing jigsaw puzzles and being around and caring about family and friends. She and her positive spirit will be missed by all.