DeFord, Irma Jean (Goldstein) died on April 12, 2015, at the age of 88. At her request, funeral services are private. She is survived by daughter Carla DeFord, son-in-law David Warrington & grandson Evan Warrington of Arlington, MA. She is also survived by daughter April Stewart, sister Shirley Scherer, nieces Antonia Schachter, Andrea Cain, Gina Felicetti & their families. Irma was a 1944 graduate of Christopher Columbus High School in the Bronx (NY), where she won a medal for dramatics. She went on to become a dental hygienist & in 1963 earned a B.A. in English at the City College of New York. Her proudest accomplishment was her 28-year career as an English teacher at Rachel Carson Junior High School & Springfield Gardens Junior High School, both in Queens, NY. During that time she created an innovative & highly successful program for teaching students how to analyze literature, which she called TriadPlus. After her retirement, she taught this program at after-school enrichment classes & to retirees. Irma was singer & actress who participated in community theatre & choruses. She also did beautiful handwork, including sewing, knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, & embroidery. Among her other interests were fashion, gardening, & interior design. First & foremost a devoted teacher, she was always a lover of beautiful things.