Irene E. Weeks

Irene E. Weeks (Ciallella), age 85, passed away peacefully Thursday, January 03, 2019. Born in Fall River, MA a daughter of the late Emilio and the late Genoeffa (Andreozzi) Ciallella, she called Barrington, RI home, though she lived in Warren, RI for the last eleven years.

A self-taught and skilled musician, she played the fiddle, piano, steel guitar and was most notably known for her singing and twelve string guitar playing. Ms. Weeks sang and played rhythm guitar with her sister in their touring and nightclub act, “Renie and Jeanie, The Chellel Sisters” and in the “Blue Grass Rhythm Gang” which was featured on a live, weekly radio show on WRIB and local television shows in Maine and Ohio..

Declining a recording contract with Capitol Records, she chose to be a stay-at-home wife and mom. During those years, she pursued her artwork. Though accomplished in portraiture, she favored nature scenes as her content. Nature was her church and a blank canvas is where she created beautiful and peaceful scenes for all who gazed upon her work. Her paintings are in homes around the world and even caught the attention of noted singer, David Bowie.

An honorary member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, she was a modest woman even though famed director, Steven Spielberg referred to her as a “national gem” on live, late-night talk radio. Remaining passionate about music, in 2008 she began her own weekly half hour short wave radio show which continues today on WBCQ.

She is survived by one daughter, Jenny Weeks of Warren and an aunt, Anna (Andreozzi) McKenna of Bristol. She was the sister of the late Genevieve I. Costello.

Her visitation will be held on Saturday, January 12, 2019 from 8:30 – 10:00 am in the Wilbur-Romano Funeral Home, 615 Main Street, Warren, RI followed by a Memorial Service at 10:00 am in the funeral home. Burial will be private. Contributions may be made in her honor to Defenders of Animals, P.O. Box 5634, Weybosset Hill Station, Providence, RI 02903-0634 or via their website at www.defendersofanimals.org. For tributes and directions please visit, www.wilbur-romano.com.