Irene R. McCardle

Irene R. McCardle, 102, of Lewistown, PA, passed away Friday, May1, 2026, at the home of her daughter and son-in-law in Florida.

Born August 8, 1923, in Burnham, she was the daughter of the late Edward H. Lindenberger and Mary G. Arnold Lindenberger. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband of 83 years, Guy R. McCardle (married December 26, 1942, in Winchester, Virginia) as well as a daughter, Mary Catherine ‘Cathy’ McCardle; and siblings Violet Stever, Edward Lindenberger, Richard Lindenberger, Drusila Mumper, and Mildred Kline.

She is survived by her loving and dedicated children Guy D. ‘Gyke’ McCardle and wife, Marjorie, of Burnham, Peggy D. McCardle and husband, Michael O’Mara, of Florida, Harvard K. McCardle and wife, Genevieve, of Lewistown; loving grandchildren Guy D. McCardle Jr., Angela McCardle Aluise, Vincent McCardle, Libby McDuling, Adrienne Jones, Britt  Barnes, Jeanette Legenza, Julie Aurand, Michael Carter, Lauren Benjamin, and several great-grandchildren, as well as her sister Mary Gladys Smith and brother Robert Lindenberger.

Irene was a 1941 graduate of Burnham High School, where she served as drum majorette during high school. After graduating, she worked as a secretary locally and then took the civil service exam and was selected for a job as secretary in the War Department in Washington DC. In December of 1942 she married her high school sweetheart and lifelong husband Guy R. McCardle.

She and Guy were an entrepreneurial team; they started the area’s first soft-serve ice cream business, the Dairy Belle, which they ran together for 15 years. While she continued to manage that business, Guy opened McCardle Motors, a Lincoln, Mercury and Saab dealership where they both worked for 33 years; when the couple retired their sons took over the business.

In their retirement, Irene and Guy enjoyed traveling the US in a motor home, taking cruises, and wintering in Florida for 30 years.

Irene was very creative, doing crafts such as needle crafts (embroidery, crochet, knitting), basket-making, building and painting birdhouses, and was adept at using a scroll saw! Her children, grandchildren and friends all treasure the ornamental bird houses and other craft treasures that she gifted them frequently.

A viewing will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at Heller-Hoenstine Funeral Home, 108 First Ave., Burnham, with a funeral service to follow at 11 a.m., with Reverend Karen McCachren officiating.

Interment will take place at Mount Rock Cemetery where she will lie next to her beloved husband Guy.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made in Irene’s memory to the two non-profit foundations that provided in-home hospice services for Irene:

UPMC Family Hospice, 20 Sheraton Drive, Altoona, PA 16601 and Suncoast Hospice Foundation, 2675 Tampa Road, Palm Harbor, FL 34684.

Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.hellerhoenstinefuneralhome.com. 

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