Irene McDonald Bittles died September 5 at Lakeway Regional Medical Center in Lakeway, Texas. She was 86.

Her life was one of courage, faith, generosity, and caring. The daughter of James J. and Marie Gerstl McDonald of East Orange, NJ, she lost her mother and her only sister, Norma, at an early age, and the fortitude she showed as a child later earned her the nickname “Brave Irene” for a quality that marked the “Greatest Generation” and her whole life.

Not only did she persevere with an indomitable spirit; she also maintained her strong Roman Catholic faith, her positive outlook, and her appreciation for many of life’s simple pleasures, including milkshakes, chocolate sundaes with wet walnuts, Disney movies, the candy bars she stashed around the house, and her mastery of the game of bridge. She presided over family vacations at Kezar Lake in Maine and holidays at her home in Houston from her perch in the kitchen, singing along to the '30s and '40s songs, movies, and stars she loved since the Saturday movies of her childhood.

She married her husband of 57½ years, William J. Bittles, in 1950, and during his career with the Shell Oil Co., they lived in New York, Maine, Florida, California, New Jersey, Illinois, and Texas. She devoted her life to her family, and even when she was distant from family and friends, "Nana" never missed sending a birthday, holiday, or anniversary card or a letter with a handwritten message.

She is survived by their three children, Nancy Bittles Walcott and son-in-law John Walcott of McLean, VA.; Bill Bittles and daughter-in-law Paula Bittles of Lakeway; and Suzi Bittles of Chicago; and by six grandchildren, Jennifer Walcott Davies of Falls Church, VA; Allison Walcott Markert of Binghamton, NY; Ashley Bittles and Dean Bittles of Austin; Elizabeth Walcott of McLean, VA; and Dylan Bittles of Lakeway.

Those interested in joining the family to celebrate her life are invited to attend a memorial mass followed by a reception at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail in Houston, TX at 1 p.m. on Friday, September 21.

Donations in her name may be made to “Our Military Kids”, an organization that provides grants for sports, fine arts, or tutoring to children of deployed members of the National Guard, Reserves, or Wounded Warriors of any branch. By mail, they may be sent to Our Military Kids, 6861 Elm Street, Suite 2A, McLean, VA 22101, or online at www.ourmilitarykids.org.