Irene Trace

Irene Rose “Rene” Gough Mathna Russell Trace, age 93 of Chambersburg, passed away on Friday, March 4, 2022 in Magnolias of Chambersburg. Born on October 11, 1928 in Birmingham, England, she was a daughter of the late Enoch and Violet Briscoe Gough. Rene grew up in England, where she attended boarding school. In 1947 she moved to the United States. Her parents followed to the U.S. in 1952.

She was married to the late Harry Mathna for 28 years until he died in 1980. She then married James Russell in 1984. She and Jim spent ten happy years together, traveling to Florida and visiting the museums in Washington, DC. He then died in 1994. Rene met her current husband, Ken Trace, in 2000 and they were then married on May 1, 2002. Rene and Ken loved to travel together. They spent over a decade exploring every state in the lower 48.

A homemaker for most of her life, Rene lived in Shippensburg for 50 years. She attended church all of her life, and was a member of Grace United Church of Christ in Shippensburg for over 22 years. In 2005, she transferred her membership to Otterbein United Methodist Church in Fayetteville. She had a very strong passion for animals, especially horses and cats. She learned to ride horses in boarding school and they remained her friends for life. She also gave a home to many cats over the years. Her love of animals led her to volunteer her time at a number of local shelters. She also enjoyed reading and working crossword puzzles.

Aside from her husband, Ken, she is survived by two daughters, Barbara Ann Mathna of Shippensburg and Sue Mathna Hurd (husband Roger) of Greencastle; stepsons, Jim Russell (wife Candy) of Mechanicsburg and John W. Trace (wife Anna) of Fayetteville; a sister, Doris Strayer of Shippensburg; 7 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; one great great granddaughter; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was also preceded in death by a daughter and great granddaughter.

Rene’s funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 10, in the chapel of Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home 333 Falling Spring Road Chambersburg, with Pastor Bill Smith and Jay Peterson officiating. Interment will follow in Mongul Cemetery, Southampton Township. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Greener Pastures No-Kill Animal Rescue P.O. Box 278 Marion, Pennsylvania 17235 or to Otterbein U.M. Church, 61 W. Main St. Fayetteville, PA 17222. Condolences and memories may be shared on her page at geiselfuneralhome.com.