Irene M. Shirley, 83, surrounded by her loving family, passed peacefully on Saturday, January 9, 2016, at Elliot Hospital in Manchester, NH after a period of declining health. 

Irene was born on September 4, 1932 in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of the late John and Anna Rivers. One of four siblings, she is survived by her brother, John of Stoughton MA and was predeceased by her sister, Barbara Holt and two brothers Charles and Roger. 

Irene was married to her high school sweetheart, William for 32 years until his untimely death in 1986. She is survived by her four children, her son, Donald and his wife, Erin of Manchester, NH, daughters, Barbara of Bradenton,FL, Diane and her husband, Frank of Spofford, NH and Nancy and her husband, Jim of Manchester, NH. Other members of her family include her loving grandchildren, Kendra Glettig and her husband, Dean, Justin Shirley and Lex Roshia, Josh Grenon, Jon Grenon and his wife, Nairobi, Joseph Grenon and his wife, Isabel, Anna Castilla and her husband, Irvin, Abi Grenon-Guerrero and her husband, Joan, Jordan Grenon, Becki Grenon, Luke Grenon, Frank Abbate, Alexandra Abbate, Daniel Hartford, Jamie Hartford and Allie Hartford. Irene was also blessed with 9 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. 

Besides her children, her greatest blessings were her 15 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. She loved spending time with them and she was an avid sports fan attending many of her grandchildren's sporting events. At area high school and AAU basketball games, she had fans of her own and was famously known as "Gram". Irene also enjoyed her word puzzles, arts and crafts, reading and shopping.

Irene will be dearly missed and remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.

The family would like to express a special thank you to the staff of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at the Elliot Hospital. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the “Wounded Warrior Project” at www.woundedwarriorproject.org, or mail to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675.

Family and friends are invited to calling hours on Thursday January 14, 2016 from 4 to 7 pm at The Goundrey & Dewhirst Funeral Home, 42 Main Street, Salem, NH. A private burial and celebration of life will take place in the spring. To send an online condolence, please go to www.goundreydewhirstfuneral.com or www.facebook.com/GoundreyDewhirstFuneral.

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