Irene Adriana Starsiak (Passchier), age 75, of Weymouth passed away Monday, December 13, 2021. Irene was born August 26, 1946 in Lisse, in The Netherlands as Clasina (Ineke) Adriana Passchier. She emigrated to the US in April of 1958 to Grand Rapids, MI and immediately started school without any knowledge of the English language.
Irene studied Chemistry in a pre-med program at Calvin College and utilized this knowledge to work as a nurse’s aide. After school she travelled throughout Europe with cousins while working for her aunt who was a hospital administrator. Upon her arrival back to the US Irene joined the Air Force where she attended officer training school and was selected as a class leader. She was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Air Force where she met her husband, Michael, who was also an officer. They were married eight months later.
At age 48, she earned her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from Boston University. She worked for many years as an Occupational Therapist for the Boston Public Schools, from which she retired in 2011.
Irene enjoyed Sewing, Knitting, and Gardening but also loved to volunteer in the community. She was involved in Cub Scouts Pack 303, Boy Scouts Troop 92, St. Jerome’s school, and St. Jerome’s Church as a lector and co-chair of the Fall Bazaar.
Irene is predeceased by her parents Piet and Adriana Passchier (Vander Syde). She is survived by her children Gregory Starsiak, Andrew Starsiak, and Geoffrey Starsiak and his wife Catherine, her grandchildren Abigail, Hunter, and Zoey, her siblings the late Lt. Col. Piet Passchier, Goris Passchier, Bastiaan “Bud” Passchier, Gerdina Waldo, and Adriana Passchier. Irene is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to the visiting hours for Irene on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 from 4-8pm in the C. C. Shepherd Funeral Home located at 134 Pleasant St. (Columbian Sq.) Weymouth, MA 02190. Relatives and friends will join in the funeral home at 10am Wednesday for a Celebration of Life prior to the funeral mass which will take place at St. Jerome’s Church in N. Weymouth at 11am. Burial will follow in Massachusetts National Cemetery, in Bourne, MA.