Irene Louise (Van Sipma) Dillon

"Together let us seek the heights" -AΧΩ

Obituary

With profound love and gratitude for a life well lived, we announce the peaceful passing of Irene L. Dillon, affectionately known to family and friends as "Nanah," on August 21, 2026, at the age of 90. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of her family.

Irene was born on January 3, 1936, in Chicago, Illinois, to Charles and Fero Van Sipma. She was raised in Roseland, Illinois graduating from Fenger High School. Irene attended Indiana University where she was a proud member of the Alpha Kai Omega sorority and graduated with a Speech Pathology degree in 1958.

As a young wife, Irene followed her husband's Army career to Atlanta, Georgia. Although life took many unexpected turns, she built a loving home in Marietta, where she spent the remainder of her life and devoted herself to raising her three children. 

As a single mother, she met life's challenges with remarkable strength, resilience, and unwavering love. Her children always knew they were deeply loved, and the example she set continues to shape their lives today.

Irene came from a family with a rich history in the jewelry business. Her father owned a second-generation jewelry store in the Chicago area (Van Sipma Jewelers), and she proudly followed in his footsteps, spending most of her career in Atlanta's jewelry industry. She was known for her professionalism, warm personality, and genuine enjoyment of helping others celebrate life's special moments.

One of Irene's greatest joys was life on the lake. As a child, her parents built a cottage on Lake Maxinkuckee in Culver, Indiana, where she spent treasured summers surrounded by family and lifelong friends. Those years sparked a passion for water skiing that remained one of her fondest memories. She became an accomplished skier, proudly mastering ski jumps at Culver Academies and participating in ski pyramids with friends—memories she cherished throughout her life. The friendships she formed in Culver remained close to her heart and became part of the story she loved to tell.

She was also an enthusiastic sports fan who rarely missed a tournament or game. Whether cheering for the Chicago Bears, watching the Atlanta Braves, following professional tennis, NASCAR, Formula 1, golf or volunteering for decades at the BellSouth Classic, later known as the PGA Tour Championship, Irene found joy in competition, camaraderie, and the traditions surrounding the sports she loved.

Above all else, Irene treasured her family. Nothing brought her greater happiness than gathering with those she loved, celebrating milestones, and watching her family continue to grow. Her greatest legacy is not measured by accomplishments or possessions, but by the love, strength, kindness, and quiet perseverance she passed on to future generations.

She is lovingly survived by her daughter, Sharon Dillon Foster and her husband, Zack Foster; and their children, Shelby, Ben, and Natalie; her son, Robert Dillon and his wife, Tina, and their children, Samantha and Matt; and her son, Christopher Dillon and his wife, Donnel, and their daughter, Avery. She was also blessed with three great-grandchildren, with a fourth eagerly anticipated, as well as six beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Fero Van Sipma; her brother, Charles Van Sipma; and her nephew, Eric Orwig.

A Celebration of Life honoring Irene will be held at the home she dearly loved in Marietta, Georgia, on Friday, September 25, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Family and friends are invited to gather to share stories, celebrate her remarkable life, and remember the love she so generously gave to everyone fortunate enough to know her.

Nanah's life was one of quiet courage, enduring love, and steadfast devotion to those she held dear. Her gentle spirit, warm smile, and unwavering love for her family will be deeply missed, but the lessons she taught through her example will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

Though we grieve her absence, we find comfort in the countless memories she leaves behind and in the enduring legacy of love she created. May she rest in eternal peace.

Gallery

Memory wall

Family tree

‹

›

‹

›

‹

›

Irene (Van Sipma) Dillon

Favorites