Mrs. Catherine I. "Irene" Appleby, age 76, died Tuesday November 23, 2010 in Winchester, after a lengthy illness. Born in Cambridge, Irene was the beloved daughter of the late Winifred (Campbell) and Edwin McKinnon.
Irene was a loving and caring homemaker that not only raised her six children, cared for her eleven grandchildren and helped with her four great grandchildren, but she opened her home as a foster parent to over 100 foster children.
Irene was raised in Cambridge where she attended the Morse grade school and Cambridge Latin high school. She moved to Somerville, and has been a Wilmington resident for the last 13 years.
Irene was the beloved wife of Henry P. Appleby. Devoted mother of Ralph Daigle of Billerica, John Daigle of NY, Patty Stephens of Oregon, Harry Appleby Jr. of Wilmington, Paul Edward Appleby of Melrose and Terri Lee Appleby of California. Also survived by 11 loving grandchildren and 4 loving great grandchildren. Sister to Joanne Ryan, Carol Ann Loder, Marie Mulikin and Leonard McKinnon all of NH, and the late Barbara, Billy and Jackie McKinnon. Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held in the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 374 Main St., WILMINGTON, Saturday at 10 AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours Friday 4 thru 8. Services will conclude with burial at Puritan Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Peabody.