Irene O. (Rochette) (Desruisseaux) Dube, age 96, died Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at the Palm Manor Nursing Home in Chelmsford after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Albert Desruisseaux who died in 1958 and Francis Dube who died in 1985.
She was born in Lowell, Oct. 17, 1911, the daughter of the late Thomas and Marie (Morin) Rochette.
Irene was a lifelong resident of Lowell and a communicant of St. Patricks Parish.
Prior to her retirement, she was the head of the housekeeping department at D'Youville Manor Nursing Home for 15 years. Irene also worked with the family owned and operated Rochettes Diner in Lowell.
She was a member of the D'Youville Manor Ladies Guild and the St. Anne's Society of St. Jean Baptiste. She also enjoyed knitting.
She is survived by three daughters and two sons-in-law, Pauline and Wilfred Lemay of Dracut, Lucille Robitaille of Lowell and Suzanne and Heyward Williams of Derry, NH; four sons and two daughters-in-law, Paul and Doris Desruisseaux, Francis and Kathleen Desruisseaux, Robert Desruisseaux and Jean Desruisseaux, all of Lowell; a brother, Frank Rochette of Lowell; her former daughters-in-law, Susan Desruisseaux of Lowell, Connie McLeod of Florida and Donna Desruisseaux of Lowell; 10 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. She was also the mother of the late Richard Desruisseaux, mother-in-law of the late Richard Robitaille, grandmother of the late Marc Robitaille, Denis Desruisseaux and Michelle (Desruisseaux) Hand, and sister of the late Thomas, Albert, Elizee, Arthur and Maurice Rochette.
Relatives and friends may call at the M. R. LAURIN & SON FUNERAL HOME, 295 Pawtucket St., Lowell, on Thursday morning, July 3, from 9:30 to 10:30am followed by her Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 11 o'clock at St. Patrick Church, Lowell. Interment in St. Joseph Cemetery. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St. Framingham, MA 01701.