Irene Ponce was born in New York City, and attended NYU. She and her husband lived in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Wichita, Kansas before moving to Greenville in 1990 and immediately registering at Prince of Peace and joining the choir.

She has served as bookkeeper for ten years and enjoys aerobics, reading, walking, and gardening.

Irene is widowed and the parent of two sons, one of which still serves in Iraq, while the older son recently returned. Both sons have been in the Persian Gulf area three times. She is the grandmother of four young ones; two boys and two girls.