Irene Janette Kovac Andersen, 87, died on May 3, 2018, at the Catskill Regional Medical Center, Harris, NY, after a long illness. The daughter of John and Anna (Talaba) Kovac, was born July 12, 1930 in Little Falls, NY. Irene grew up on a farm in Cherry Valley, NY. After graduating from Cherry Valley High School, she attended Plattsburgh State Teachers College and graduated with a degree in Home Economics. Irene taught Home Economics in Cherry Valley High School before marrying August E. Andersen on July 3, 1954. She was a substitute teacher at Delaware Valley Central School and Hancock Central School. She also taught English at Job Corps in Callicoon, NY. Irene helped her husband develop Andersens Maple Farm, which included at first, dairy cattle, maple syrup, beef cattle, and a hunting business. She made and packaged the maple candy and maple butter, and sold products at local farmers markets and county fairs. Irene was very involved with children and had many school trips to the farm to teach kids about maple syrup and how it was made. For several years, she had the Girl Scout Troops from Long Island come to the farm to learn about farm life, animals, outdoor living, maple syrup, and wildlife. In 1955, Irene and August started their hunting business using their large house as a lodge and Irene cooked all the meals for the hunters. Irene was a 4-H Leader for 30 years, a member of the Delaware County Cornell Cooperative Extension and served on the 4-H Program Committee, Junior Advisor for the NYS Junior Hereford Association, President of the NYS Cowbelles Association, Chairman of the NYS Beef Cookoff, Town of Hancock Planning Board Member, Member of the Long Eddy Home Bureau Club, and Chairman of the Rock Valley Cemetery Association. Irene loved to sew and make clothes. She also loved to draw and design the brochures for the maple and hunting businesses and painted backdrops for the maple booth. Surviving are a son, Peter Andersen and wife Pattie, Long Eddy, NY, 2 daughters, Amy Kelsey and husband Maurice, Canastota, NY, and Anna Marie Andersen, Long Eddy, NY, 6 grandchildren, Jenny Mills and husband Jon, Julie Wittman and husband Peter, Jason Kelsey and wife Dakota, Justine Kelsey, John Paul Rosello, and Megan Andersen, and 7 great grandchildren, Lilly and Logan Mills, Brooke and Wyatt Wittman, and Bailee, Annabelle, and August Kelsey. She was predeceased by her husband, August, and grandson, Mason Rosello. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, May 10, 2018 from 4-6PM with a memorial service following at the Henderson-Biedekapp Funeral Chapel, Hancock. Interment of Irenes ashes will be held privately in the Rock Valley Cemetery, Rock Valley, NY. Donations can be made in Irenes memory to the Upper Delaware Ambulance Corps, P.O. Box 258, Hankins, NY, 12741 or to the Town of Hancock Ambulance, P.O. Box 733, Hancock, NY, 13783 or to the Parkinsons Research Foundation, 5969 Cattleridge Blvd Suite 100 Sarasota, FL 34232. Arrangements by Henderson-Biedekapp Funeral Chapel, Hancock. SERVICES Calling Hours Thursday, May 10, 2018 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Henderson-Biedekapp Funeral Chapel 29 EAST MAIN STREET HANCOCK, New York 13783 Memorial Service Thursday, May 10, 2018 6:00 PM Henderson-Biedekapp Funeral Chapel 29 EAST MAIN STREET HANCOCK, New York 13783