IRENE VINGLE MAZUREK OF MONONGAH'S LEGENDARY MUSICIAL FAMILY PASSES AWAY

 

                             IRENE VINGLE MAZUREK

Irene Vingle Mazurek passes away

 

Irene Vingle Mazurek passed away Tuesday, September 26 at Fazio’s Eldercare. She was 97!

Irene was a nurse at Fairmont General Hospital and private medical practices and was Director of Nursing at Saint Barbara’s Memorial Nursing Home just south of Monongah in Frogtown before switching to MVA Health Center, once known as Fairmont Clinic.

Being a Vingle, Irene naturally took to music as the legendary Vingle music family did. Irene’s passion from a young age was the piano. She accompanied her father, Edward Vingle’s orchestra for local weddings and other celebrations where, at the age of 12, she met her future husband, Alferd Marurek. They were married 69 years when he passed away in 2017.

Irene also sang in the church choir.

Her mother was Sophia Urban Vingle. Urbans and Vingles dominated the Monongah High and Monongah landscape for decades.

Irene and Alferd have 3 children, Nancy Mazurek Laughlin of Fairmont, Joni Mazurek of Summersville and Bruce Mazurek of Martinsville, Virginia.

Irene’s siblings are Raymond Vingle and Ronald Vingle.

1965 Fairmont West High, Fairmont State graduate and WVU master’s degree earner Barry Vingle, who must be a relative, is past president of the West Virginia Jazz Festival, West Virginia Band Director of the year in 1995 and in 1996 the 25 years of Distinguished Service Award from the West Virginia Music Educator's Association and in 1997 The City of Fairmont Arts and Humanities Commission's Music Award, inducted into the West Virginia Music Educator's Hall of Fame in 2002. Barry   was in the United Mine Workers Concert Band, the Morgantown Municipal Band, the Jim Talkington Jazz Quartet, the Royals rock band, the Virgil Vingle Orchestra, The JR Farley Band, The Sydfx Rock Band and the Orlando Colombo Orchestra.

He played with or provided backup for Christina Fontanelli, The Four Aces, Gianni Russo, Franco Corso, Joe Piscopo, Rudy Amato, Damian, Eddie Mekka, Cindy Williams, Fabian, These Three Tenors, Fred Travalena and Jeff Jarvis.

Barry also played drum for The Four Aces, The Shanri-Las, These Three Tenors, Fabian, Eddie Mekka and Oliver Nelson.

 

During the 1994-95 school year he was a percussion instructor at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon.

 

His Fairmont Senior High School Polar Bear Jazz Band was outstanding high school jazz ensemble in West Virginia in 1992 and 1997, first place at the Orlando Jazz Band Festival in 1992, first place at the Virginia Beach Band Festival in 1993, first place at the West Liberty State College Jazz Contest in 1994 and 1995 and first place and Grand Champion at the Orlando Festival of Music in 1996.

 

His Jazz Band in 1997 performed at the Southern Music Educators National Conference in Nashville and was a finalist jazz bands for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Competition in New York City. Barru also was band director at Mannington High School when its Jazz Band won the 1975 state title.

 

His Polar Bear Band took part in Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City, the Grand Feature Parade at Disney World, the Virginia Tournament of Bands, the Florida Festival of States, the Virginia Beach Band Festival, The Orange Blossom Festival and Citrus Bowl Parade in Orlando, and the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington and was in the Marching Bands of America contests in Harrisonburg, Virginia; Toledo, Ohio; Johnson City, Tennessee, and Morgantown. The band won awards in auxiliary and percussion and overall band.

Irene’s obituary:

Irene Vingle Mazurek, 97, of Fairmont, passed away Tuesday, September 26th at Fazio’s Eldercare. She was born November 6, 1925, in Fairmont, daughter of the late Edward and Sophia Urban Vingle. 

Irene was a graduate of Monongah High School and St. Mary’s School of Nursing. Throughout her nursing career, Irene worked at Fairmont General Hospital and in several private medical practices, freelanced as a private duty nurse, served as Director of Nursing at St. Barbara’s Memorial Nursing Home, and ended her career at MVA Health Center (formerly Fairmont Clinic). Irene was an involved member of the Monongah Alumna Association, Fairmont Junior Woman’s Club, and Woman’s Club of Fairmont. She was a parishioner of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church and a member of the St. Theresa’s Guild. 

Nursing and care-giving were Irene’s vocation and passion, but music was central to her being, as she hailed from a musically gifted family. She played the piano at an early age and began accompanying her father’s orchestra for local weddings and other celebrations. Legend has it that she met her future husband at such an event, at the age of 12. Irene sang in her church choir and loved playing the piano, with or without written music, throughout her life and long after her other skills had diminished. Although she was a busy working mom, Irene also had a zest for social and community activities. She enjoyed golfing, playing bridge, organizing neighborhood parties, and dancing at the Elks club. 

In addition to her parents, Irene was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Alfred Mazurek, in 2017; her brother Raymond and sister-in-law Patty Hess Vingle; and brother Ronald Vingle. 

She is survived by her three children, Nancy Laughlin (David) of Fairmont, Joni Mazurek of Summersville and Bruce Mazurek (Pamela) of Martinsville, Virginia. Her grandchildren are Gevony Laughlin Williams (Chris) of Mars, Pennsylvania; Mannon Laughlin Gilroy (Liam) of Staten Island, New York; Conn Laughlin of Fairmont; Garrett Prendergast (Tsoomoo) of Alexandria, Virginia; Ross Prendergast (Sarah) of Summersville; Hillary Mazurek Theile (Michael) of Jupiter, Florida; Violet Mazurek of Nashville, Tennessee; Sophia Mazurek of Asheville, North Carolina; and her brother-in-law Steve Mazurek (Katherine) of Pensacola, Florida. She is also survived by nine great-grandchildren, whom she lovingly called “the kids.” 

Irene is remembered as the matriarch of her extended family, a dedicated professional, a dear friend to many, a talented musician, and a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, and Babcie to her loved ones. 

Friends may call from 3-6 p.m. on Sunday, October 8, 2023 at Ross Funeral Home, 801 Fairmont Avenue, Fairmont. Services will be held at the funeral Home at 11 a.m., Monday, October 9th with Deacon David Lester officiating. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Irene’s family thanks the staff of Fazio’s Eldercare for their compassionate care during her time with them. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association – WV Chapter, PO Box 18485, South Charleston, WV 25303 or to WVU Foundation, 1 Waterfront Place 7th Floor, Morgantown, WV 26507. Please designate Alzheimer’s Research – WVU Medicine on your donation.