BANGOR — Irene Carmen Hemond Patry, 87, passed away in Bangor, with her loving daughter by her side. An adored mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, she will be greatly missed by those whose lives she touched. She will be remembered for her positive outlook, persevering nature, kindness, generosity, “joie de vivre,” and her abiding love of family.

Born Sept. 14, 1923 in Lewiston, she was the daughter of Alphonse and Rose Anne (Plante) Hemond. The middle child of a French Canadian family of seven children, she developed a strong work ethic at a very young age while working on the family farm in Minot. On Sept. 3, 1951, she married Adrien R. Patry at Sacred Heart Church in Auburn, where she has remained a lifelong member. A resident of Auburn for 54 years, she left in 2007 to move closer to her daughter. She passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010 at the Westgate Manor as a result of complications associated with Alzheimer’s.

During her early years, she attended Sacred Heart Boarding School in Jackman and the Ave Maria Academy in Sabattus. She graduated from Lewiston High School in 1942 and from Acme Business College in 1943. Her first secretarial job was at Personal Finance Co. in Lewiston. She was also employed by the Maine Employment Security Commission and the United Fund before completing 25 years of service at Beneficial Finance in 1976. She finished her working career as a part-time bookkeeper for Marcotte Furniture World. Irene was a real people-person, enjoying office camaraderie and her service to the public.

As a resident of Minot, she was a member of the Minot Center Grange No. 266. She served as grange master from 1944 to 1946 and earned the highest level of membership, the Seventh Degree of the National Grange. Her commitment to seeds and soil continued throughout life by her involvement with the UM Cooperative Extension and the growing of her own flowers, fruits, and vegetables. She spent many hours working in her gardens and took great pride in harvesting, canning, freezing, preserving, and giving away her crops to all who stopped by. She also enjoyed sewing, caring for her home, vacationing with her family aboard the Chinook, trips to the Caribbean with her beloved sisters, weekends with her daughter at the Burnt Island Lighthouse, and spoiling her two children and six grandchildren.

She is survived by her son, Roger, and his wife, Peggy, of Ephrata, Wash.; her daughter, Elaine and her husband, Jeremy Jones, of Hampden; six grandchildren, Andrew, Edwin, and Megan Patry, Tamara, Gregory and Benjamin Jones; and one great-grandchild, Sarah Patry. She is also survived by her sister, Theresa Patry; her brother, Andre Hemond; and 34 nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, Adrien; her brothers, John, Roland, and George Hemond; and her sister, Rita Ojala Bertram.

You are invited to share your thoughts, condolences and fond memories with the Patry family by visiting their guest book at www.thefortingroupauburn.com.