Irene M Bettencourt

Irene was born on March 5, 1935, in Oakdale, California and died peacefully on May 11, 2012, in the comfort and peace of her daughter Judy's home in McKinleyville surrounded by family from complications of Alzheimer's. She was, and will always be remembered, as a very loving mother- and for Irene, family always came first.

Irene was a 40 year resident of McKinleyville. She always enjoyed simple things in life- flowers, woodworking crafts, walks on the beach, movies and listening to country music - Johnny Cash- Carl Perkins, Hank Williams and all of the other country heroes of her youth.

Our fondest memories with our mama include week long camping trips to Pismo Beach, long hours spent at the beach hunting for shells, home cooked family dinners and a trip to visit her ancestral home in the Azores Islands and Portugal.

Children, friends and guests always came first with Irene and she always had room for all of them - and more! She loved her family very much and treasured the time spent with them. Family gatherings were the light of her life and very important to her.

She will be greatly missed by her family and friends, but we take comfort in the fact she is suffering no more.

She is survived by her son Joey and Susan Bettencourt of McKinleyville and seven daughters; Marjorie and Arnold Gomes Jr. of Greenfield, CA; Irene and Gerry Jauregui of Clovis, CA; Mary Jane Hatfield of McKinleyville; Nancy and Bill Cader of McKinleyville; Vicky Bettencourt of McKinleyville, Judy and Tom Jansen of McKinleyville and Kathy and David Athey of Morgan Hill, CA. Irene had 14 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband Joseph (Portagee Joe) Bettencourt; her parents Manuel Gomez Jr. and Mary Pettit; her infant son Anthony Bettencourt and her beloved granddaughter Julie Gomes,

Graveside services will be at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Arcata on Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 at 2 o'clock.

Arrangements are under the direction of Pierce Mortuary/Paul's Chapel, Arcata.

Please visit our website at www.paulschapel.com and sign the online guestbook.

Please sign the guest book at www.Times-Standard.com, click obits.