Irene Mary LeBlanc

Irene M. (Steben) LeBlanc, 90, formerly of East Hartford, loving wife of 66 years of John J. LeBlanc, Sr., peacefully went to join our Lord on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 with her beloved family by her side. Born in Hartford on June 12, 1932, a daughter of the late Nazaire and Flora (St. Onge) Steben, she had been a resident of East Hartford for over 60 years. A devout Catholic, she was a former longtime faithful communicant of St. Isaac Jogues Church in East Hartford. Irene enjoyed traveling with her husband and spending her summers at their summer home at the White Sand Beach in Old Lyme, especially with her children, grandchildren and family members.

Irene was known as the information woman as she loved geography and history. She was a gentle woman who never said a negative word about anyone and was always optimistic as the “glass was always half full”. She liked working and solving puzzles, word scrambles, word searches, and reading maps. She was also an avid loyal fan of the Boston Red Sox and a devoted special friend to several individuals who have predeceased her. Most of all, Irene was a proud and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who cherished every moment spent with her entire family, especially family gatherings, “happy hours” and “wine o’clock” at White Sand Beach. Irene will be forever remembered for her love of life, family and friends, her singing and dancing around the kitchen, her nightly cookie and milk…and the color blue. Irene also loved her luncheons with the “St. Ann Girls” and dining with her new friends at the Clark House. They had many laughs together.

Along with her husband, Irene is survived by six sons, John J. LeBlanc, Jr. and his wife Lisa of Dunedin, FL and East Hartford, Paul E. LeBlanc and his wife Robin of East Hartford, David R. LeBlanc and his wife Sylvia of Hebron, William “Billy” LeBlanc and his wife Cathy of East Hampton, Philip R. LeBlanc and his wife Michelle of Marlborough, James “Jim” LeBlanc and his wife Kerri of Glastonbury; three daughters, Marie Donato and her husband Gregg of East Hartford, Teresa Kappel and her husband Roy of Venice, FL, Diane Petrella and her husband Daniel of East Hartford; a sister-in-law, Doris Larose of Newington; a brother-in-law, Roland LeBlanc and his wife Florence of Chester; twenty-eight cherished grandchildren; eighteen adored great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends. As the matriarch of our family, Irene was predeceased by her parents and her entire family; her seven brothers: Arthur, Leon, Hector, Conrad, Philip, Ernest, Bernard and her two sisters Flora (DesJardins) and RoseMarie (Fongemy).

Funeral service will be Friday (July 1, 2022) with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10:30 am at St. Christopher Church of St. Edmund Campion Parish, 538 Brewer Street, East Hartford. Burial will follow at Silver Lane Cemetery in East Hartford. The family request that everyone please go directly to the church on Friday morning. Irene’s family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday (June 30, 2022) from 3 – 7 pm at the D’Esopo East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Irene’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopoeh.com.