Obituary of Irene Busanovich Worden

Irene Busanovich Worden, 61, died on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008, at her residence in High Bridge. Irene was born and raised in Princeton, NJ, the daughter of Charles J. and Eleanor Busanovich. She was a descendent of Jonas Basanavicius, who is often regarded as the George Washington of Lithuania. She graduated from Princeton High School where her musical talents were widely recognized, and was named the outstanding musician of her graduating class. Irene graduated from Douglass College in 1968 as a psychology major. At Douglass she played the viola for four years in the Rutgers Community Orchestra. In 1973 she married Louis R. Worden in Rutgers Chapel in New Brunswick, and they resided in Highland Park for four years before moving to High Bridge in Hunterdon County, where they lived together until she died. Immediately after marriage, she began a long, dedicated, and distinguished career in parole, serving as parole officer, senior parole officer, assistant district parole supervisor, and finally as district parole supervisor. She retired in 2005. Irene donated to numerous charitable organizations, and was a longtime sponsor of the Smithsonian Institution. Irene always found time to be the proud and loving mother of two sons, Damon Louis Worden and Darian Charles Worden. In addition to her husband and sons, she is survived by her sister, Carole B. Bentz, as well as several cousins and their offspring. The Visitation will be on Wednesday, October 29th from 2-4 pm and 7-9m at the Martin Funeral Home 1761 Rt. 31 Clinton, NJ 08809. A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, October 30th at 11:00 am also at the funeral home. The Interment will take place at the Musconetcong Valley Cemetery in Hampton NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to Tabby's Place Cat Sanctuary, 1100 US Highway 202, Ringoes, NJ 08551.