Irene F. McLean of Orleans passed away August 22, 2019 in Orleans, age 97. Irene Frances Tately McLean was born December 28, 1921 in Brockton, the daughter of William Tately of Walpole and Alice Anderson Tately of Brockton. She was a long-time resident of the Campello part of Brockton.
Irene is survived by a son John Hallisey, Orleans; grandson Peter Hallisey, Natick (Leigh Condon), and great granddaughter Lila Hallisey, Natick. Irene was the widow of George McLean of Brockton. Irene was the sister of the late Harold Tately (Dorothy Brooks), Harwich, and the late William Tately (Phyllis Herzog), Phoenix, AZ; the aunt of Chuck Tately, Los Angeles, CA; David Tately, Dennis; Peter Tately, Harwich; Steven Tately, Phoenix, AZ; Bill Tately, Tucson, AZ; and Carole Benkendorf, Prescott, AZ.
Irene was a 1940 graduate of Brockton High School, winning an art prize and thinking of a future in journalism. During WW II,she earned production medals for work in a munitions' factory, Randolph. She was the last of the WWII generation to survive in a family, where everyone served or otherwise contributed to the war effort.
Irene graduated from Brockton Business School and worked as a bookkeeper/accountant for various businesses in Brockton, lastly and mostly for businesses (MUTRON, MUPAC, etc.) owned by the Forsberg family, to whom she remained always grateful. The Forsbergs said that she always kept the accounting department in line and never had a problem on audits; she said she had the best job in Brockton. Irene continued an old Brockton tradition of working five and a half days a week until retiring age 67, thirty years ago.
Irene was loyal to family and friends, some who remained friends from early childhood for life, Ginnie and Gloria. She read the newspaper thoroughly each day and prepared her tax returns into her 90's.
She and husband George (shoe industry; pilot, Pacific theater, WWII) in retirement travelled four to six times each year to Florida, Arizona, upstate New York, and Cape Cod . Irene and George lived on month each year at an apartment in the old part of Quebec City, Canada, close to the St. Lawrence River (June or early fall or both). Irene travelled to Ireland, Bermuda, and the Bahamas with friend Marie. She enjoyed eating out, shopping for family and self, and being near the ocean. In older age, she could be seen sitting in her chair a the end of Nauset Beach boardwalk (Orleans).
Irene was grateful to caregivers in Brockton, at her son's home in Orleans, and the Terraces Nursing Home, Orleans.
A graveside service will be held in the spring of 2020.
For more information, phone John Hallisey, 508-255-5321.
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