Irene May Hewitt

Irene May Hewitt was born two years before WW 1 ended, on October 26, 1916 outside of London, England. Her parents were Rupert and Nellie Slark; she was the middle daughter of three sisters, Ruby and Joan.

Irene had many stories of growing up before cars, telephones, and electricity. Finishing school at age 13 she was put into the work force by her mother and started earning a living, becoming a seamstress by trade.

Irene met her husband, Henry ' Hank ' Austin Hewitt from South Carolina, during WW 2, he was station in England while serving in US Navy. ( Hank would sneak canned goods off his ship to help feed her family because of the tight food rations during the war. ) After the war, Irene saved up enough money to pay passage for herself to the US where she married and became a US citizen.

After retiring from the Navy, they settled down in San Diego. Irene went back to school and graduated from Grossmont Adult School with a high school diploma in 1968. She attended Grossmont College and participated in costume construction, clothing and design for the drama department. She also enjoyed knitting and became quite skilled with knitting machines after it became difficult to knit by hand. Irene enjoyed being a member of the Daughters of the British Empire, having tea with friends, family celebrations, and spending time in her garden with her little dog, Lady.

Irene is survived by her daughter, Virginia, two grandsons, Eric and Chris, and four great-grandchildren, Tara, Rosilyn, Jackson, and Ricky.

She will be laid to rest beside her husband of 53 years, at El Camino Memorial Park.