On October 9, 2011, Irene Marie Karcz passed peacefully into the Hands of The Father just 4 days shy of her 92nd birthday. The daughter of Antonio and Delia Provencher, she was a truly spiritual person who loved her family more than life itself. She and her husband of 52 years, John, who pre-deceased her in 1991, raised three daughters and five sons, and never a day passed that she wasn’t devoting herself to their care and well being. She was an expert seamstress and a marvelous cook who was never happier than when surrounded by those she loved. Whether volunteering at her church or attending to the needs of her 19 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren, Irene was always in motion. She was physically active throughout her life and even in her 70’s she was climbing mountains with her family, participating in numerous Vietnam Veterans, and Cancer walks, and walking daily to attend Mass at St Augustine’s, a very hilly mile away. Never one to complain, she always found the good in others. Singing was a passion and often her lovely soprano voice could be heard through the walls as she worked in the kitchen or did the laundry.
She is survived by her daughter Carolyn and husband Theodore Pekalsky of Newton, NH; daughter Nancy and husband Richard Coskren of Alton Bay, NH; daughter Janice and husband John Blachuta of Gales Ferry, CT; son Ted and wife Linda of Salem, NH; son Conrad and wife, Nancy of Dracut, MA; son John and wife Jodi of Plaistow, NH; son Brian and wife Laurie of Pelham, NH; son Ron of Lawrence, MA; brother Conrad Provencher and wife Doris of PA; sister Claire Custeau Munro of Methuen MA; brother Albert Provencher and wife Emily of PA; sister-in-law Maureen Provencher of CA; sisters-in-law Stella Landry of Lawrence MA and Eleanor Karcz of Methuen MA, and many nieces and nephews. She was also pre-deceased by brother Robert Provencher and wife Irene, sister Annette and husband Bob Cole, brother Roger Provencher and wife Lucille, sister Lucille and husband Hudson Powell, brother Raymond Provencher and wife Marquerite, brother Leo Provencher and wife Karin, brother Arthur Provencher, and sister Jeanne and husband Clyde Borrelli.
Arrangements
Family and friends are invited to visit on Wednesday, October 12th, from 4:00-8:00P at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, 233 Lawrence Street, Methuen, MA. (www.pollardfuneralhome.com / (978) 687-7300). A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, October 13th at 10:00A at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, St. Augustine’s Chapel, 128 Ames Street, Lawrence, Mass. Burial services will be held at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery, 29 Barker Street, in Lawrence , MA. In lieu of flowers, donations in Irene’s memory may be made to the Chris Boshar Fund, 28 Bayberry Rd., Dracut, MA 01826-4172.