Irene A. Lake

Born in Swansea, the daughter of the late Henry J. and Adele (Parent) Dion, she was a lifelong resident of Swansea.

Devoted to her Catholic faith, she was a communicant of St. Michael’s Church, now St. Francis of Assisi, a founding member of the Catholic Women’s Club of St. Michael’s Church, a CCD teacher, Eucharistic Minister and a recipient of the Marian Medal. A 17-year volunteer at St. Anne’s Hospital Oncology Department, she enjoyed gardening, sewing and woodworking. Irene loved the outdoors; she took care of the birds, cultivated roses and always opened her home to family and friends.

She is survived by three daughters, Reverend Susan Lake of Pawtucket, RI, Debra Mello and her husband Paul of Somerset and Cynthia Ruest and her husband Samuel of Assonet; one sister, Jeannine Moss of Swansea; one brother Henry Dion formerly of Swansea; twelve grandchildren, Matthew, Keith, Kayla, Bethany, Lisa, Jeffrey, Stephanie, Heather, Nathan, Jonathan, Benjamin, Abigail, twenty great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and daughter in law Ilda Lake. She was the mother of the late Raymond H. Lake, Jr. and sister of the late Annette Pineau, Beatrice Lachance and Bernard Dion.

Her Funeral will be held Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 8:30 AM from the Waring-Sullivan Home at Birchcrest, 189 Gardners Neck Road, Swansea followed by a Funeral Mass at 9:30 AM in St. Francis of Assisi Church, 530 Gardners Neck Road, Swansea. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours are Wednesday from 4:00 to 7:00PM. The family is requesting all guests wear a mask for the services. Contributions in her honor may be made to Joslin Diabetes Center, 1 Joslin Place, Boston, MA 02215. Burial will be in Notre Dame Cemetery, Fall River.