Irene's given name was Rocchina, but you may have called her "the flower lady" or "Mrs. Morgan."  Three called her Mom, eight called her Nanny, two called her Nonna and more than 60 called her Aunt Irene or - colloquially AI.

Irene was born in Camden to Addolorata and Paolo Giordano (deceased).  She and her siblings - Dominic, Joe, Mary (Goodwin), Frank, Rose (Giannetti), Rocco, James (all deceased); Antoinette (O'Donnell), Dolores (Treddinnick) and Grace (Konstantinides) - shared a single bathroom, so everything after that was a picnic.

She loved the jitterbug, the lindy hop and the waltz.  In 1954, she married Tony Morgan, who was her dance partner for 50 years.  Irene was immensely proud of her three sons; Anthony, Paul and Mike, who grew up to be just like her in a million little ways, though they are unlikely to admit it.

If you lived in South Jersey between 1975 and 2000, you probably bought gladiolas, mums or poinsettias from Irene and her beloved Tony (deceased).  In the later years, one of her adoring grandchildren - Annemarie, Christina (Oswald), Anthony, Lisa, Katie, Audrey, Emmett and Meara - probably loaded them into your car.

Irene loved beautiful clothes, a well written thank you note, butter pecan ice cream and all Three Tenors.  She adored her great-grandsons, Francis and Christian.  She liked airplanes but disliked heights.  She liked the beach but disliked swimming.  She loved perfectly ripe cantaloupe and riding in cars, trains and buses.  She loved weddings and was the first on the floor for the Electric Slide.  She did not like tattoos, "boom box music," or jeans that come with holes in them.  She liked things done a certain way but she was usually right.  She did not throw away torn pantyhose, which are great for tying tomato plants to their stakes.  She was very territorial over her Tupperware.

Irene was an accomplished traveler who excelled at tennis, bocce and Rummikub.  She was exceptionally good at feigning shock when entering surprise parties she requested be thrown for her.  She was also skilled at convincing theater ushers and U.S. customs agents to let her keep snacks.

She could stretch a dollar and a box of pasta.  She loved to cook, eat and laugh; she especially loved to do all three at once and there was always an extra seat at her table.

Her sole regret was that she would not be present at the services to hear all the very nice things everyone would have to say about her.  If you'd like to say them anyway, her visitation will be Monday evening 7 to 9 PM at the FOSTER-WARNE FUNERAL HOME, 820 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ and Tuesday 9:30 to 10:45 AM at St. Joseph the Worker Parish, St. Vincent Pallotti Church, 901 Hopkins Rd., Haddon Twp., NJ.  Mass of Christian Burial 11 AM.  Interment to follow.

Please don't send flowers.  Irene's standards in that area were very high and she wouldn't want you to feel bad.  The family welcomes donations to MD Anderson Cancer Center, 400 Haddon Ave., Camden, NJ 08103 and/or American Cancer Society, 1851 Old Cuthbert Rd., Cherry Hill, NJ 08034.

Irene left an indelible mark on all who knew her - countless acquaintances, friends and cousins in every corner of the world - over 89 vibrant, colorful years.  She remains irreplaceable, unforgettable and thoroughly iconic.  She and Tony are dancing again, where the music need never stop, and that, as Irene would say, is the story.