ATHENS, Ohio –– Irena D. Mickunas passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, with loving family at her side. Irena was born in Joniskis, Lithuania on October 21, 1936. She left that country with her parents due to Soviet occupation in 1944 and emigrated to the United States in 1949, settling in Chicago.
Irena earned a degree in Business Administration from Roosevelt University in 1959. She came to Athens with her family in 1969 and attended Ohio University’s business school to earn her MBA. She was employed by Ohio University as an accountant for research grants and was greatly appreciated by faculty for her gentle reminders to spend their grant money before the deadlines to do so.
With a group of friends and as an avid reader, she formed a long-lasting book club and enjoyed discussing literature. She traveled extensively to many places, including Egypt, Tibet, China, Peru, Mexico, Greece, Jordan, Turkey, and more, not simply to see the sites, but to experience various cultures and histories, managing to charter a small plane to get to remote places, to ride a camel, and to barter in local bazaars and shops. She had a zest for beautiful artifacts and surrounded her home in unique finds. Her contribution to the community included being a member for the founding of the Dairy Barn Arts Center. She cherished her time with artistic friends, who created jewelry, quilted, and painted, while she herself knitted fabulous sweaters.
She was married to Dr. Algis Mickunas, professor of philosophy, for 66 years, and raised three fiercely loved children, Gregory, Marcus, and Sylvia. They all live in Athens and will miss her cheerful presence, as will her beloved surviving husband, and son-in-law Thomas Feery. She is missed by all, including her two adored grandchildren, Lydia and Gabriel Mickunas.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Juozas and Sofija (Tomulyte) Diamentis, her sisters, Dana Butkus and Graziene Bauzys, and her brother Juozas Diamentis Jr., as well as many nieces and nephews.
We invite all to celebrate her beautiful life at 8 Maple Grove Way in Athens on Friday, April 4, starting at 4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Please share a memory, a note of condolence or sign the online register at www.jagersfuneralhome.com.
