Ilene D Whelpley

Ilene Derick Whelpley, 90 of Sudbury, MA, died peacefully in her sleep at Sunrise Assisted Living in Wayland on Sunday morning March 17, 2012. She was born in Orleans, Vermont on June 15, 1921 and raised there in the heart of the Northeast Kingdom. She was the daughter of Kathleen Scholes Derick and well-known Vermont photographer Mack Derick.

Ilene was a graduate of Orleans High School and went on to graduate from Lasell Junior College in 1941. She worked as an executive secretary at Metropolitan Life in Montpelier, VT. She returned to Lasell to work with the Dean of Students and later she became the Administrative Assistant to the Director of Student Services at Lincoln Sudbury Regional High School.

Ilene and her husband Dick moved to Sudbury in 1948 living on Concord Rd in Sudbury’s historic district. She hosted many a 4th of July party on her front lawn as Dick and their three children often marched in the parade, right past the house.

Ilene was known for keeping close friendships. She and Dick traveled to many high school reunions in Vermont. This past June was Ilene’s 70th reunion at Lasell, and the first that she was unable to attend in many years. Until her death Ilene was the longest standing member of Memorial Congregational Church in Sudbury having joined in 1949. She loved her church community, enjoyed many years of committee service and was known to sit in the back pew so she could keep an eye on things.

Laurie, Mom, Grammy, Shortstop, and to some, Ilene, was a lover of life! She enjoyed entertaining her friends and her annual Christmas party was a big family tradition. She would also be happy playing cards and many board games. Notably, Ilene was an avid reader, Celtics and Red Sox fan.

Ilene was the beloved wife of the late Richard F. Whelpley. She was the sister of the late Dorothy Coffin of Orleans, VT and the loving mother of the late Susan K. Whelpley of Framingham, MA. Ilene is survived by her daughter Judith W. Hawkins and husband Edward and her grandchildren, Abigail and Shelley of Sudbury, MA, her son Richard F. Whelpley and his wife Sharon of Atlanta, GA, and Sue’s partner, Brian Parrott of Framingham, MA. Ilene also leaves her niece, Laura Crawford of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and John Coffin of Peacham, VT.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate Ilene’s life on Saturday March 31, 2012, 1:00 pm at Memorial Congregational Church, 26 Concord Road, Sudbury.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the MCC Memorial and Gifts Fund for Music at the church.