Irene J. Dupere Gagnon

Born in Fall River, a daughter of the late Gerard J. and Dorilda (Lachance) Dupere, she grew up in the Somerset area before moving to Dartmouth.

Irene graduated from Somerset High School and later Union Hospital School of Nursing. She worked as a registered nurse for Union Hospital, Village Hospital in Florida, and spent more than 40 years at St. Luke’s Hospital. She was a communicant of St. Julie Billiart Church.

Irene was inducted into the Somerset High School Hall of Fame for basketball and softball. She formed the first girls’ softball league sponsored by St. Luke’s in which she coached for many years. She really enjoyed kayaking, fishing and golfing. Irene will be remembered for her love of animals and supporting both the MSPCA and Humane Society. She loved walking on the beach with her dogs and watching her grandchildren during sporting and musical events.

She is survived by two daughters, Pamela Mayo and her husband Robert and Catherine de Silva and her husband William all of Dartmouth; a son, Eric Gardner and his wife Mary of Mendon; a brother, Edward G. Dupere and his wife Marcia of Healdsburg, CA; two sisters, Lucille A. Dupere of Dartmouth and Anne Marie Coates of Machipongo, VA; four grandchildren, Ian and Elizabeth Mayo and Amy and William de Silva; and several nieces and nephews.

Her funeral will be held on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 9 AM from the Waring-Sullivan Home of Memorial Tribute at Dartmouth, 230 Russells Mills Rd., Dartmouth followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 AM in St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Rd., Dartmouth. Burial private. Visiting hours Monday 4-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Charot-Marie-Tooth Association, PO Box 105, Glenolden, PA 19036 or Autism Society, 4340 East West Hwy, Suite 350, Bethesda, MD 20814. For online tributes or directions: www.waring-sullivan.com