As I say goodbye to Irene my heart is sad, but also filled with the most wonderful memories. When looking back at my childhood, Irene was always there. I remember her sitting at the kitchen table drinking hot tea on a Saturday night,  celebrating New Years Eve all together in her basement..... 

Irene was always there to talk, listen, defend when necessary; (lol); she was part of our family.  No matter what I ever went through, I could always count on her for guidence and good advise. As a teenager if there were issues at home, no one had to look far for me. I would run around the block to Irene's house, and there she'd be, open arms and a huge heart!

I will never forget the morning my daughter was born. I had to make my mother pick Irene up and go the hospital with us, mostly to play referee! She and my mom were the very 1st people to see and hold my first born. I will never forget Irene coming into that hospital room, tears of happiness in her eyes. She had watched me grow up my whole life, and now she was there to watch me bring my baby into the world. Each and every event in my life, from mildstones on up the line, I could always count on Irene. 

Irene, I will miss you greatly, and look forward to the day I may see you once again.