Virginia Irene Smades

Virginia Irene Smades, 97, of Melbourne died Sunday (2/15) at her home. A native of Rector, Arkansas she came to the Melbourne area in 1974 from Flint, Michigan where she had worked as a sales clerk for Sears.

When Irene came to Melbourne, she became very active in the community. Moving into Hollywood Estates, she was a member and the first President of the Hollywood Estates Homeowner's Association. She had been a member of the South Brevard Senior Association, the Harbour City Retirees Club, both of Melbourne. Irene also attended the Wesley Methodist Church in W. Melbourne and in 1984 she established and was the lead singer of the Music Makers band. The Music Makers played in all the senior centers in the area as well as at the Harbour City Retirees every Wednesday and continues today as the Harbour City Retirees Dance Band. Everywhere she went there were many who would ask her to sing. She also had entertained on Carnival Cruise lines.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband: Victor; her brothers and sisters: Maxine White, Mildred Lemonds, Neil Olds, Pete Olds, Juanita Chamberlain, Marilyn Olds, and Kenneth Olds; and a grandson: Scott Dale.

She is survived by her daughter: Sharilyn Kesten of Melbourne; son: Gary of Merritt Island; grandchildren: Michelle Bez of Germany, Marc (Lisa) Kesten of North Carolina, Keri (Brett) Basher of North Carolina; and great-grandchildren: Anastasia Bez, Madeline Bez, Eleanna Bez, Cameron Kesten, London Kesten, Craig (Melanie) and children, and special friends James Hickey and Al Geary.