Irene M. Holmes, 87, of Londonderry, NH, died Wednesday, August 17, 2005 in her daughter's home in Londonderry. Mrs. Holmes was born in Boston, MA on March 1, 1918, a daughter of the late John and Mary (Valenti) Baratta. She was a resident of Londonderry for the past year, formerly living in Salem, NH for 44 years. Irene was a longtime volunteer at Northeast Rehabilitation in Salem and was involved with the Salem Association for Retarded Citizens. She was a former member of Mary Queen of Peace Church in Salem, and was a current communicant of St. Jude Parish in Londonderry.
She is survived by her daughter, Linda Connelly and her husband Steve of Londonderry, two sons, Richard J. Holmes of Londonderry, Michael F. Holmes and his wife Donna of Westford, MA, six grandchildren, three brothers, John Baratta and Al Baratta, both of Woburn, MA, James Baratta of San Antonio, TX, several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Francis R. Holmes in 1996, a daughter, Diana M. Olen in 1998 and a granddaughter, Dawn in 1977.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Saturday, August 20th at 10:00am in the St. Jude Parish, 435 Mammoth Rd., Londonderry. The burial followed in the Pine Grove Cemetery in Salem. Friends called on Friday, August 19th from 6 - 8pm in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry, NH. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Jude Building Fund, 435 Mammoth Rd., Londonderry, NH 03053 or to the Rockingham VNA Hospice, 137 Epping Rd., Exeter, NH 03833.