Irene Jeannette Brito, age 83, passed away on March 12, 2012. Irene was born on October 11, 1928 in Plymouth, Massachusetts to Manual Fernandez and Anna Belle (Dolman) Fernandez. Irene was raised in Carver, Massachusetts with her 8 siblings. When her family moved to Boston, she attended Girl's High School and eventually met her husband Arthur D. Lesueur, Jr. Over the next 25 years they raised 3 wonderful children. She later married Harold Brito, aka "Jr.". She started her working career at Walden's Laundry, and eventually became a stay at home Mom for many years taking care of her children and grandchildren. After she raised her children, she went on to work at Foxboro Electronics where she eventually retired after greater than 20 years. Irene has always been a spiritual person, heavily involved in a variety of church activities, i.e., Church dinners, ministries, etc.. Irene started her spiritual journey as a Catholic when she was a child, and after her marriage to Arthur became a Deaconess at Lincoln Congregational Church. Later in life she was extremely excited about finding a new spiritual home. She then became a Deaconess of Lighthouse of Faith in Christ Jesus where she attended for years prior to her long illness. Upon coming to Memphis she worshiped at Hope Presbyterian with her daughter and family.
Irene is survived by her children - Jeannette Spencer at Hull, Ma; Arthur Lesueur III of Springfield, Mo, and Annette Hawkins of Memphis, TN; 7 grandchildren - Darlene Spencer, Melinda Lally, Arthur Lesueur IV, Felicia Richesin, Jason Spencer, Anthony Hawkins, and Maya Hawkins; 9 great grandchildren, two sisters - Mary Nicholas and Dorothy Southern, and two brothers - Lawrence Fernandez and Victor Fernandez. Siblings who preceded her in death were Juanita Baldwin, Eva Scott, Oliver Fernandez and Ralph Fernandez.
Visiting hours will be held Friday March 16, 2012 at Lighthouse of Faith in Jesus Christ 65 West Elm St. Brockton 5-7 pm followed by a Funeral Service at 7 pm. Burial will be Saturday at 10 am in Melrose Cemetery, 88 N. Pearl St., Brockton.