Irene J. Deschenes

She was born in Manchester on May 5, 1925, the daughter of Jean and Claudia (Morin) Deschenes. She was educated at Saint Anthony Grammar and High Schools and obtained her degree from Hesser Business College.

Prior to retirement, she had been employed as a secretary for the Hon. Alfred Chretien, a former Manchester district court judge. She had also worked for Devine, Millimet, Stahl & Branch Law Firm in Manchester for several years.

Irene enjoyed reading and solving Sudoku puzzles. She was a strong woman of faith who was an active member of the Alliance of the Sisters of Holy Cross. She was a devoted Holy Cross Associate who spent the last 26 years volunteering at the Holy Cross Health Center, participating in the faith life of the sisters, as well as the Mission of Holy Cross as a member of the Art and Creativity mission group. Her presence to those with whom she shared life and her care for the poor, leave a loving testimony.

She was predeceased by two brothers, Richard and Robert Deschenes and one sister, Lucille Bothwick.

Family members include many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and cousins.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Thursday, April 26, 2012 at the chapel of St. George Manor, 357 Island Pond Rd., Manchester. Burial followed in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, 474 Goffstown Road, Manchester.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Sisters of Holy Cross Development Fund, 377 Island Pond Rd. Manchester, NH 03109, or to New Horizons of New Hampshire, 199 Manchester St., Manchester, NH 03101.