LISBON — Irene Gagne Gietzen, 83, formerly of Lewiston and Port Charlotte, Fla., died Tuesday at the Lamp Nursing Home with her godchild Betty Melvin and her family by her side.

Born in Lewiston on June 20, 1926, a daughter of the late William and Antonia Blais Gagne, she attended Lewiston schools and graduated from Lewiston High School in the Class of 1947. She then joined the U.S. Navy as a wave and was Honorably Discharged in 1955.

She worked at Northeast Bank for 18 years until her retirement in 1973 and then went to live in Turner to be a caregiver for the Merrill family until July of 1992. She returned to Lewiston and Port Charlotte until meeting Harold Gietzen, the love of her life, at the age of 74. They were married on Nov. 15, 2000. They lived in Port Charlotte and Grand Rapids, Mich., until his death in July of 2005, when she returned to Lewiston.

She enjoyed her family, dancing, going to Hollywood Slots, traveling, and always had a smile.

She is survived by a nephew and caregiver, Mike Gagne of Lewiston; a sister, Madeleine Broadhurst of Gorham; a brother-in-law, Raymond Levesque of Lewiston; several nieces and nephews; her step-children, Mary Beth and John Wardrop of Grand Rapids, Mich., Jean and David Mairn of Tampa, Fla., Dr. Timothy and Kathyleen Gietzen of Holland, Mich., Theresa and Jerry Matthews of Ada, Mich., Jeffrey and Georgia Gietzen of Grand Rapids, Mich., Mark and Jayne Gietzen of Lansing, Mich., and Craig and Kristin Gietzen of Rockford, Mich.; and several step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her sister Dorothy Levesque on May 25; two brothers, William R. (Bob) and Lucien R. Gagne; and two sisters-in-law, Theresa Gagne and Eunice Gagne and her companion of 30 years, Clifton Merrill.

The family wishes to thank the staff at the Lamp Nursing Home for their loving care during the past two years.