Irene M. (Vandersingel) Marsh, 93, longtime Westfield resident, passed away Sunday July 8, 2018 at Mont Marie Rehab & Healthcare Center, Holyoke, MA. Born June 14, 1925 in West Springfield, MA to the late Theodor and Laura (Bouvier) Vandersingel, Irene was raised in Feeding Hills. She graduated from St. Thomas School (1940) and Cathedral High School (1942).
Married on April 19, 1949, she was the beloved wife of Ernest F. Marsh, who predeceased her in 2001. A communicant of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church, Westfield, Irene was a longtime member of the choir and coordinated the Altar Circle. A loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and aunt, she leaves to cherish her memory, two devoted daughters and sons-in-law: Joan P. & Wm.
Alan Duffy of South Hadley and Mary I. & Kent L. Barrett of Westfield. Two grandchildren Alison H. (Duffy) & husband Christopher Chateauneuf and Craig A Duffy & partner Carlos Vicenty, two great grandchildren Tyler & Kacey Chateauneuf, all of Chicopee, and many loving nieces and nephews. In 1961 Irene became affiliated with the Hampden County Improvement League as a student-teacher of rug braiding.
She completed Teacher Training Classes for Vocational Instructors in 1969 and taught rug braiding in West Springfield and South Hadley Evening Practical Arts, at the Westfield YMCA and the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum. She participated at the Big E Rug Bee and Craft Adventure both demonstrating and judging. She wrote a copyrighted rug braiding teaching manual.
Irene was a past president of the Granville Quilt and Needlework Guild, teaching quilting for the guild and privately, and was one of three guild members featured in the documentary “Lives in Patchwork”. In 1991, she initiated the GQNG service project which has donated hundreds of quilts to the Ronald McDonald House in Springfield. She entered the Springfield Guild of Craftsmen as a master quilter in the 1980’s, participated in MA Quilt Documentation Days and volunteered for many years at Storrowton Village, demonstrating quilting in the Potter Mansion.
For years Irene and Ernie opened their home weekly for what was affectionately known as “Marsh Thursday,” a day of friendship, needlework, quilting and card playing. Irene continued to open her home to her quilting friends until she was 90. A visiting hour will be held Monday, July 16, from 9:30am to 10:30am at Firtion Adams Funeral Home, 76 Broad St, Westfield, followed by Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11am in Our Lady of The Blessed Sacrament Church, Holyoke Road, Westfield.
Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. The family would like to thank the staff at Mont Marie for the loving and compassionate care provided to Irene.
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