Irene Augusta (Ormonde) Medeiros, 93, of New Bedford, passed away Monday, September 18, 2023, after a period of declining health. She shared 45 years of marriage with the late Gilbert R. Medeiros.
Irene was the daughter of the late Ursula (Silveira) and Francisco M. Ormonde, and granddaughter of Theodora C. Ormonde.
Irene graduated from New Bedford High School and was an experienced bookkeeper, employed for many years by the Sunbeam Credit Union, as well as other area credit unions. Irene was also employed as a Clerk for the New Bedford School Department, retiring in 1995.
Irene enjoyed her life to the fullest and was happiest when spending time with her loving family and her wonderful friends. She was a proud, life-long community member of the City of New Bedford and was also proud of her Azorean heritage. She was a supporter of many area organizations and enjoyed actively volunteering her time to help her community, including serving as Girl Scout leader to many area young women; a docent at the New Bedford Whaling Museum for more than three decades; and a CCD teacher and bazaar volunteer at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart Parish for many years.
Irene loved to read and learn about historical events. She enjoyed playing cards, cribbage, and board games; attending plays at the Zeiterion Theatre; participating in water aerobics classes at the New Bedford YMCA; and attending events at the Freetown VFW, where she was a member of the Woman's Auxiliary.
Survivors include her daughters, Louise D. Medeiros of New Bedford, and Jane M. Friedman and her husband William Friedman of Dartmouth. Irene was a loving grandmother to her granddaughters, Sarah Friedman of Washington, D.C. and Hannah Friedman of Dartmouth. Irene is also survived by several nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and godchildren.
Irene was predeceased by her siblings, Cecilia (Ormonde) Gouveia and her husband Gus ; Mary (Ormonde) Tremblay and her husband Richard; and Francisco M. Ormonde and his wife Ermelinda. Irene was also predeceased by her niece and "special little buddy", Patricia (Ormonde) Taylor, her niece Sandra (Ormonde) Colvin and her nephew Richard Tremblay.
Irene's family would like to extend their gratitude to the dedicated nurses and staff at the Our Lady's Haven Nursing Facility for their unwavering kindness, compassion, and professionalism. Irene will always be remembered as an exceptional wife, daughter, mother, and grandmother and will be missed.
Her Funeral Mass will be held at 11:30 a.m. on September 30, 2023, at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in New Bedford. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Our Lady's Haven, Activities Fund 71 Center St., Fairhaven, MA 02719 or the Azorean Maritime Heritage Society Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 40942, New Bedford, MA 02744