Irene M. (Ahearn) West, a lifelong resident of Whitman, died on Thursday October 19th at the South Shore Hospital at the age of 94, after a brief illness.
Irene was born in Brockton, daughter of the late Patrick and Margaret (Dunn) Ahearn, stepdaughter of the late Esther Ahearn. She was predeceased by her husband Elmer A. West.
Irene attended Whitman Schools and was a graduate of Whitman High School, Class of 1941. She was very active in her community as a Cub Scout den mother, a CCD teacher, a prefect of the Holt Ghost Sodality, president of the Whitman Mother’s Club, a member of the Class of 1941 High School reunion committee, Whitman-Hanson Citizen Scholarship, a member of Founders Club and a Annual/Award presenter, she last presented in 2016.
Irene was employed at a variety of establishments throughout her life, some of her first jobs included, a ticket taker at the Whitman movie theater, telephone operator and office worker at the Commonwealth Shoe Company. Later she worked at Menard’s Jewelers, Condon‘s Restaurant, Home Basics, Macy’s and finally the Private Industry Council, retiring at the age of 83.
Irene had a zest for life. She enjoyed first and foremost her family. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and aunt. She enjoyed hosting and celebrating holidays, birthdays and any other reason she could think of at her home.
She had many relatives and friends and enjoyed every activity, visit or excursion that she was involved with. Irene enjoyed participating in a supper club for many decades. She enjoyed the beach especially her summers at Hideaway Village in Bourne and all of the friends and parties that surrounded it. She also enjoyed traveling to many countries and states and she loved to shop.
She is survived by her five children, Martin West and his wife Dianna of Abington, Joel West and his wife Honorable Deborah Dunn of East Bridgewater, Richard West and his wife Dorothy of Brockton, Marianne Scully and her husband William of Franklin, Janice West-Rines of Whitman, her sister Marion Feeney of East Bridgewater; her grandchildren Eric West, Laurie Bonnano, Robert and Gregory West, Johanna, Patrick, Christian and Angelique Scully, Tyler and Jennifer Norton and Aaron West.; also 11 great-grandchildren. Her niece Colleen Frye and her husband Ralph and their children Evan and Sarah of Bridgewater. She was pre-deceased by her brother, Reverend Richard Ahearn and brother-in-law Michael Feeney.
Relatives and friend are respectfully invited to attend her funeral services on Tuesday October 24th at 8:15AM from the Blanchard Funeral Chapel, Plymouth St (Rte. 58 at the rotary circle) Whitman, followed by a funeral mass at 9:00AM in the Holy Ghost Church, Whitman. Burial will follow in the Colebrook Cemetery, Whitman. Visiting hours will be on Monday October 23rd from 4:00-8:00PM.