Miss Irene F. Delage, 91, died December 28th 2015 at the Berkeley Retirement Home in Lawrence. Born in Lowell she lived most of her life in Lawrence. She was the daughter of Joseph and Clara (Adam) Delage and was predeceased in death by her siblings; one sister Ruth Slimily an two brothers Roger and Victor Delage. She was a graduate of the former Sacred Heart Grammar and High School and also received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Merrimack College. During her business career, Irene also obtained the coveted professional CLU designation from the American College of Life Underwriters, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Her diploma was presented at the Harvard Club in Boston where she was the only woman in the group.
During World War II, Irene served in the Navy WAVES Corps. After basic and specialist training, she served her tour of duty in the Port Director’s Office in Boston. During her service she was given a special assignment which gave her the distinction of being the first woman to act as an interpreter in the United States Attorney’s Court. She was discharged from the WAVES with the rating of Yeoman First Class.
After her separation from the service, she took a temporary position with the Prudential Insurance Company, which turned into 37 years. During her time with Prudential she held several assignments in a field office, and became the office manager. She was later promoted to Field Office Consultant, an assignment which required working with the clerical staff in several offices throughout the New England area. She was transferred to the Northeast Home Office as a System Analyst and later became the first woman to be appointed to a management and administrative position in the Northeast Home Office. In 1975 she had the honor of being named to receive the Northeast Home Office “Century Community Service Award” a monetary amount which was to be presented to her favorite charity.
Irene was involved with various community and service organizations. She was Past President and Secretary of the Ladies Philharmonic Guild, Past Vice President and Secretary and Life Member of the Bon Secours (currently Holy Family) hospital Ladies Auxiliary; also a member of the Board of Directors of Bon Secours and a member of the Joint Hospital Board; a former member of the Quota Club; one of the originators of the Ladies of Merrimack; second Vice President of the Women’s Division of the Chamber of Commerce which was later incorporated into the regular Chamber; a member of the Third Order of Mary in the former Sacred Heart Church and Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish; a member of Our Ladies Sodality of St. Patrick Parish, and also a member of the Lawrence Elks Lodge. Irene also served on the board of the former First Essex Savings Bank as a Director and Trustee.
She is survived by nieces Dorothy Viens and her husband Warren, Kathleen Sportum and her husband Greg, Nephew Joseph Simili, grandnieces Elizabeth, Kathy and Gladys Roeger, Diana Pelletier; Grandnephews Peter and Robert Viens, Jason Sportum, and several great grandnieces and great grandnephews.
Family and friends are invited to attend her funeral Mass on Friday, January 15th, 2016 at 11:00 am at St. Patrick Church, burial will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Edgar J. Racicot Inc. Funeral Home, 1400 Broadway Rd. Dracut, MA 978-683-2706. Online condolences can be shared at www.racicotfuneralhome.com.