Irene L. Gordon

Irene L. (Barbour) Gordon, 84, passed away peacefully at the Community Hospice House, Merrimack, on Wednesday evening, November 21, 2012 after a period of declining health. Her loving daughters were at her side. She was deeply loved and will be sadly missed.

Irene was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on February 15, 1928, the first child of the late Francis and Sophie (Morris) Barbour. She was raised and educated in Worcester. She attended the Worcester Memorial Hospital School of Nursing but left school to marry and raise her family. She married John J. Gordon Jr. of Nashua on April 15, 1950 and relocated with him to this city.

She and her husband raised four children prior to his untimely death in October 1981. Irene was involved in her children’s activities and was extremely proud of their individual accomplishments. She provided unwavering support to them from their earliest moments into adulthood.

Irene was employed by St. Joseph Hospital in various positions for more than 30 years. She was an Admissions Supervisor at the time of her retirement in 2002.

She was an extremely generous and giving woman who cared deeply about others. She was a people person with an innate ability to put others at ease with a caring smile, a few well-chosen words, or simply providing a listening ear.

Music was a major presence throughout her life. She was a gifted soprano who loved music of all genres. She sang professionally in the Worcester area prior to her marriage and in her later years, was an active member of the Nashua Senior Center’s Silver Lining Chorus. She was a featured soloist in 20 of the Senior Center’s last 21 annual fundraising shows.

Through her participation in Senior Center activities she was introduced to Harold Weisse, a talented pianist who shared her passion for music. Hal was clearly her soul mate and over the course of their 10 year relationship, he was her constant companion and dearest friend. He also became a beloved member of her entire family.

Irene was an avid reader who was forced to turn to recorded books after losing her vision. Many thanks go to the New Hampshire Association for the Blind for providing her an electronic reader and an endless supply of books on tape, as well as numerous other items that allowed her to live independently for many years.

Family and friends will remember Irene for her ready smile and willingness to provide whatever she could to help others in difficult circumstances. Above all else, she treasured her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. They were an active presence in her life and one of them was always sure to elicit a laugh or very big smile from her. She loved to hear stories of their accomplishments, as well as their naughty antics. She was affectionately known as “Bam” to all of the younger family members.

Aside from her parents and husband, Irene was predeceased by her sister and brother-in-law, Jeanne and Harold Copp of Leomonster, MA, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, and dear friends.

She is survived by her close companion, Harold Weisse of Nashua; one brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Barbara Barbour of South Windsor, CT; Two sons, Robert M. Gordon and his wife, Lisa Maronski of Bedford, NH; Kevin J. Gordon of Manchester; Two daughters, Katherine A. Teeple and her husband David of Merrimack and Maureen F. Dorman and her husband Richard also of Merrimack; Seven grandchildren, Charles Teeple and his wife Laura of Dunstable, MA; Khara (Teeple) Lafontaine and her husband Chad of Hollis; Patrick Gordon of Bedford, Ryan Gordon of Framingham, MA; Andrew Gordon of Nashua; Shannon Dorman of Merrimack; and Gregory Dorman of Revere, MA.; Six great-grandchildren, Julia, Benjamin, and Travis Lafontaine of Hollis, NH; Mary and James Teeple of Dunstable, MA; and Ethan Dorman of Merrimack.

She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A celebration and remembrance of her life will take place on Tuesday, November 27 at 11:00 AM at the First Baptist Church, 121 Manchester St., Nashua, NH followed by her burial at St. Patrick Cemetery in Hudson, NH. Family members and close friends are invited to meet at the Zis-Sweeney Funeral Home, 26 Kinsley St., Nashua at 9:00 AM Tuesday morning. All others should meet at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Irene’s name to: The Community Hospice House, 210 Naticook Rd., Merrimack, NH or to the Nashua Senior Center, 70 Temple St., Nashua, NH. 03060.

The family would like to express their deepest thanks to the staffs of East 3 at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, Northeast Rehabilitation Center at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, and the Community Hospice House in Merrimack for the compassionate care delivered to Irene and her family during her final days.