Irene McGee Thompson, 94, of Twin Mountain died peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, November 25, 2018. She is now an angel in Heaven, and her family and friends will always remember her as an angelic woman who cherished her family, loved her friends, and lived a life filled with grace and compassion. Irene was born in Saco, Maine on February 20, 1924 to her loving parents, John and Mary Mullen McGee.
She and her parents moved to Twin Mountain when she was very young. As the oldest of ten children, Irene and her six sisters and three brothers lived happy lives growing up in Twin Mountain. Throughout her youth, Irene attended Twin Mt School.
In high school she played basketball, cultivated a love for the sport, and eventually became an avid Celtics fan. She loved playing sports and attending school and graduated from Twin Mt High School in 1942. After high school, Irene began her work experience as a telephone operator at Eastern Slopes in North Conway.
Like many Americans during WWII, she wanted to do something to help in the war effort, so she traveled to Watertown, MA to work in the boot factory. Irene became the devoted wife of the late Robert G. Thompson who predeceased her in 1983. Bob and Irene met in school and became high school sweethearts.
After high school, Bob joined the Army to serve his country in WWII. Upon his return from the war, Bob and Irene were married at St. Patrick”s Church in Twin Mountain on June 24, 1946. Together they made their home on Parker Rd in Twin Mountain and raised three wonderful children.
Not only did Irene dedicate her life to her husband and children, but she also chose to continue working. She was a popular waitress at Ricardi’s Restaurant for many years. She and Bob worked together at Foster’s store and at the bank in Whitefield.
Irene then continued working for the bank as a currier. One of the jobs she enjoyed the most was her four years as a cashier in the cafeteria at Bretton Woods Ski Area. Many skiers adored and remembered Irene because of her warm smile and happy personality.
Keeping busy was never a problem for Irene because she also had many interests and hobbies. She was a generous woman who joined the Twin Mt Women’s Club and spent many hours baking for and volunteering at their numerous activities. Perhaps her generosity is most clearly illustrated by the many Thanksgiving and Christmas meals she made every year for several people in the town who had very little or were alone.
Many hours were also committed to her position as Trustee of the Library. Irene was very crafty and somehow found time to relax while joining other women in the town for quilting. Perhaps she is most remembered for her talent at making balsam wreaths.
Year after year before Veteran’s Day, she sent her family into the woods to gather boughs so that she could make a wreath for each veterans’ grave-site in the town. The family kitchen smelled of balsam throughout November and December as she continued making gorgeous Christmas wreaths for her family and friends both near and far! Faith was always at the center of Irene’s life.
Even though she liked to travel anywhere, there was one place very special to her, and she made the trip at least four times. One only needed to ask, and she eagerly would pack and head north to Quebec to visit the Shrine of Saint Anne de Beaupre. Irene was a communicant of St. Patrick’s Church and loved attending daily mass as often as possible.
She also enjoyed participating in church life by doing such things as serving breakfast at the Hunters’ Breakfast and baking pies for the church suppers. Family members include her children, Jim Thompson and his wife Becky from the Seacoast area of NH, Jean Sequeira from Maine, and Patti Edelmann and her husband Tom also from New Hampshire. She was truly blessed to have five grandchildren, Sarah, David, Tony, Christopher, and Nikki as well as four great-grandchildren, Maura, Silas, Liam, and Xander.
She also leaves behind her sisters and brother, Phyllis Ricardi, Pauline Boynton, Kay Mountain, Thomas McGee, and Theresa Jellison along with many other beloved nieces and nephews. Irene was predeceased by her husband, her sisters Stella Lemieux, and Janet Wessels and brothers, John McGee and Herbert McGee. Visiting hours will be at Ross Funeral Home, Whitefield Chapel, 69 Lancaster Rd.
Whitefield, NH on Friday November 30, 2018 from 5 to 8 PM. Fr. Schultz will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday December 1, 2018 at 11AM at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Twin Mountain.
Committal will take place at St. Margaret’s Catholic Cemetery, on May 10, 2018 at 2PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 166 So. River Rd.
#210 Bedford, NH 03110 or St. Jude”s Hospital for Children, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
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