Penelope Cummings

Penelope "Penny" Dirrig Cummings

On February 20, 2023, Penelope "Penny" Dirrig Cummings received the reward of her faith - Eternal Salvation. She passed away unexpectedly at home at the end of a day attending to her wide and varied interests. Penny was endlessly curious, always reading, listening and learning, often seen finishing or starting her latest puzzle, sampling exotic ingredients for dinner, and sharing her attention with friends and family. As a daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, niece, cousin, friend and teacher, Penny is forever a blessing in our lives.

Penny's joy of learning began with her education at St. Vincent High School in Akron, and continued with a bachelor's degree in English at the University of Akron where she won a scholarship from the United Steelworkers of America labor union and served as president of the sorority Theta Phi Alpha. Along with raising sons, Michael and James, with husband, Ray, she earned a master's in special education at the University of Kansas and received a national award as Outstanding Teacher in Learning Disabilities in 1996.

Penny was proud to reflect on making a home in over 17 different places on God's precious earth before retiring to Kent to enjoy time near family and her well-loved roots in Akron. As a decades-long breast cancer survivor, her resilience and grace will remain a touchstone of faith and hope for all who have known her.

Penny was preceded in death by her husband, Ray; her father, Raymond Dirrig; and her mother, Pearl Pantages Dirrig.

In addition to sons Michael and James, Penny is survived by sister Bernadette (husband C.P.; brother William (wife Sharon); and brother Thomas (wife Marilyn). She was a loving aunt to three of her siblings' children.

Cremation has taken place with ashes joining family at East Akron Cemetery on May 13th, 2023 at 2:00pm. Reception to follow.