Irene Shirley Plouffe

Irene Shirley Plouffe, 87, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 14, 2025, surrounded by family and love. She is now reunited with her beloved husband, Raymond E. Plouffe, and in the arms of Jesus.

Born on September 15, 1938, in Detroit, Michigan, to Cecilia and Archie Bates, Irene devoted her life to faith, family, and service. A loving wife, mother, and grandmother, she sacrificed her own dreams to provide a home filled with love, laughter, and warmth for her six children.

Through both joyful and challenging times, Irene was the steady hand that held her family together. Her marriage to Raymond was a lasting example of tenderness, loyalty, and perseverance. She showed her family every day what true love and commitment look like.

Irene found joy in life’s simple pleasures—casinos, Keno, and the family’s competitive card games that always ended in laughter and playful debate. Her famous pumpkin rolls and open-door hospitality made her home a gathering place for family and friends.

Her Catholic faith was her anchor. For 35 years, she attended Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, where she found strength and community.

Irene is survived by her six children—Raymond Plouffe, Susan Dega, Brandy Moody, Sharon Halbirt, Margie Traylor, and Dennis Plouffe—along with 15 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and her faithful companion, Gizmo. She was one of 13 children and was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond E. Plouffe.

A Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, 3220 W. Greenway Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85053, on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. A luncheon will immediately follow in the church’s fellowship hall.

Instead of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Hospice of the Valley.

“Well done, good and faithful servant... Enter into the joy of your Lord.”

— Matthew 25:21