Irene B. (Mankewich) O’Brien, 94 March 2, 1930 - August 3, 2024 94 Years Old
Haverhill, MA - Mrs. Irene B. (Mankewich) O’Brien, 94, of Dorchester, known by most as the Matriarch of her large family, also known as a loving, giving, strong, honest, independent woman, passed away peacefully in her sleep early in the morning on Saturday, August 2, 2024, while under the care of hospice, her daughter and son in law. She was the beloved wife of the late John F. O’Brien.
Irene was the first born daughter, out of 9 siblings, born on March 2, 1930 to Joseph and Blanche (Chmielewski) Mankewich in Boston, MA.
She spent most of her life in South Boston, and Dorchester, and loved being in the city, while also close to the beaches in Southie, and Castle Island. She loved being able to walk around her city and commute using public transportation when she could. Later in her life she loved being in the city as it was so close to “The Best Doctors in the World’ at Mass General Hospital, and they took great care of her.
Irene was a strong woman that grew up helping to care for her younger siblings from a young age and continued to care for her family and their families as long as she could. There is nothing more that Irene enjoyed than spending time with her family; from vacations to holidays to birthdays to barbecues to beach days, to Sunday get-togethers and more. There wasn’t an event that Irene didn’t want to attend. Especially if there was good food, drink, and music (she loved her Polka);she enjoyed playing card games (The Florida Game),board games and scrabble with her family; she just loved a good time.
Irene began her working career as an accountant and bookkeeper at Harold Cabot and Co. in Boston and Charlestown, followed by Arnold Worldwide in Boston. Irene worked into her seventies until she was asked to retire, but wanted to keep working long after that. She loved the commute into the city, the relationships she had with her longtime friends and co-workers, the lunches, the football cards in the fall, and being able to run to Hallmark for her Christmas ornaments or any of the other stores in downtown Boston when she wanted. She truly was an independent woman and one who was admired by many. After she retired she found time to enjoy monthly lunches with her friends; Bingo, dances and events put on by senior services in Boston, and as always her family.
Irene was a devout Catholic, strong in her faith, and loved her
church /churches. It was important to her and she was grateful to receive visits from many priests/pastors and nuns when she could no longer make it to church, and also when she was in the various hospitals and rehabilitation centers over the past few months.
Irene is survived by her daughter Irene Vercellone and her husband Dave of Haverhill; three grandchildren, Michael Doyle and his wife Julie of Methuen, Michelle Stevens and her late husband Jeff of Beaumont, Ca., and Matthew Doyle of Haverhill; she had four great grandchildren that she absolutely adored, Morrigan and Connor Doyle, and Thomas and Summer Stevens. Irene is also now reunited with her predeceased (April 3, 1995) dearest son John E. O’Brien.
Irene also leaves behind six thriving brothers and sisters; Jeanette Alessi and her late husband Don, Helen Celata and her late husband Bob, Marion Ritz and her late husband Pat, Carol Hayes and her husband Frank, Joseph Mankewich and his wife Barbara, Ann V. Dobens and her husband Brian. Irene has been called home to be with her late brothers Edward and Richard Mankewich. Irene also leaves behind many nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews and loved to spend as much time as she could with all of them!
Arrangements: Visitation and Funeral services will be held at Saint Teresa of Calcutta in Dorchester, Ma. 800 Columbia Rd, Boston, MA 02125. Visitation Friday, August 9th from 10am to 11am at the church followed immediately by the funeral service. All friends and family are invited. Burial in New Calvary Cemetery, in Boston, MA after the services are concluded.