Family-Placed ObituaryIRENE JOHNSON GUERRINI Irene Morris Johnson was born April 30, 1931 at Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Oliver Livingstone Johnson and Irene Olive Morris Johnson. In a day and time when women were expected to marry and take care of the home, Irene's mother made sure her girls were well educated. After graduating from Wilkinsburg High School with honors, Irene first attended Central State College in Wilberforce, Ohio before transferring to Pennsylvania State University where she received her bachelor's degree in mathematics. She quickly began teaching in the public schools of East Orange, New Jersey, after discovering that her home school district was not yet ready to employ African-American teachers. While teaching in East Orange, Irene earned her master's degree from the University of California (Berkeley) and her doctorate from the School of Education of New York University. Dr. Johnson also studied at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, The University of Vienna in Stroble, Austria, and the College of the Americas in Mexico. She spent her professional career teaching first in the schools in East Orange and then in the West Palm Beach public schools where she retired. Always active in the church, Dr. Johnson was raised in the St. Mark A.M.E. Church, Wilkinsburg, following the denomination of her pastor grandfather, the Reverend Joseph E. Morris. After migrating to East Orange, Irene joined and was elected an elder at the First Presbyterian Church of East Orange where she sang in the choir. Upon moving to West Palm Beach, Irene promptly joined the First Presbyterian Church and continued her singing, along with being elected to the Session, thus continuing her responsibilities as an ordained elder. On June 15, 1983, Irene was joined in marriage with Gian Luigi Guerrini, a cruise ship physician whose home was Genoa, Italy. They had first met on a cruise in 1970. No children were born of the marriage. Irene and Gian enjoyed many trips to various places around the world including extended stays in Italy along with their residence in West Palm Beach. Dr. Gian Luigi Guerrini preceded Irene in death on February 3, 2006, as did her older brother, Oliver Morris Johnson, who was killed in action on February 12, 1945 during the Battle of the Bulge, World War II, in France. Upon her death on February 7, 2008, Irene left to mourn her and to celebrate her many gifts, which she so unselfishly shared with those around her, are her brothers, Livingston M. Johnson and Justin M. Johnson, her sister, Justine M. Johnson, her stepsons, Giordana Guerrini and Giuliano Guerrini, along with her close friend through the years, Beatrice McKoy and many nieces, nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews. The remembrance for Irene Guerrini will be included during the regular worship service 10:30 AM Sunday (tomorrow) at the First Presbyterian Church, 301 South Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach. To express condolences and/or make donations Visit PalmBeachPost.com/obituaries