Irene Eleanor Liden

Irene Eleanor Liden passed away at her home in Sisters January 3, 2025. She was born in Valley Stream Long Island, New York, January 11, 1941, to Harold and Mildred Liden, who preceded her in death, as well as her brother Donald Liden, her partner of 20 years Jennings McLean, and Bertol, Quartz, Freischutz, and Rheingold, some of her beloved pets.

Irene Liden

Irene is survived by her sister-in-law Jane Liden, three nephews Lance, Lars, and Leigh Liden, their wives and children, her partner of 30 years Lola Knox, beloved dog Bjorling, and a host of loving friends in Central Oregon (and Texas) who will dearly miss her, as well as many in the community who so appreciated her sharing her love of music.

A graduate of USC, Irene's field was Opera. She continued her studies not only at Eastman School of Music, but with famous opera singers such as dramatic soprano Eileen Farrell and even Wagner's granddaughter Friedelind Wagner in Bayreuth, Germany.

She sang with many opera companies during her career including Louisiana, San Antonio, Santa Fe, Chautauqua, and Bayreuth. She was just shy of obtaining her Doctor of Musical Arts from University of Texas Austin when she decided she needed money, so got a job teaching voice at San Antonio College, where she taught for 40 years.

Upon retiring and moving to Sisters in 1995, Irene soon founded the Sisters High Desert Chorale which she has directed for a total of 12 years, accepting no compensation. She wanted to bring a higher level of choral music to this community. She gave this gift freely to the choir and the community because she wanted to share her love of music with the joy she had in her heart. Even though her disease had progressed rapidly, it was her goal to see this Christmas concert through and she certainly did that!

Irene was also an active member of the Sisters bell choir, The Twelve Tones, as well as percussionist in the early music group Renaissance Sisters, both directed by her partner Lola.

But, as much as Irene loved music, it was her love of nature that brought her to Oregon and she never regretted moving here.

She has hiked every trail and also loved kayaking in the beautiful lakes.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date. If so desired, in lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to Seed to Table; Sisters Gro; Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church; and San Antonio Philharmonic.