Irene Marie Vachon

Irene Marie Vachon
(Fortin)
Essexville, Michigan
Irene Marie (Fortin) Vachon, age 94, our loving mother, grandmother, great- grandmother, great-great grandmother, sister and friend passed away at Brittany Manor in Midland on Thursday, April 2, 2015. She was born on May 8, 1920 and was fifth of twelve children born to Olive (Sequin) and Origene Fortin in Rock Island, Province of Quebec, Canada. On May 2, 1942, Irene married Albert Joseph Vachon in Rock Island, Quebec. In 1948 she moved to Bay City, Michigan and in 1965 moved to Essexville. Irene was a member of the choir and Altar Society of St. Jude Thaddeus Parish - St. John's Church. She was also a proud lifetime member of TOPS of Essexville and a sewing group for many years. Irene loved to sew, knit and made ceramic dolls, care bears and Afghans for all the girls in the family. She was very proud of learning how to play the piano by ear which gave her many hours of enjoyment. Irene is survived by three sons Claude (Bonnie) Vachon of Auburn, MI, Raymond (Susan) Vachon of Kawkawlin, MI, Paul (Cherie) Vachon of Vergennes, VT, and one daughter Diane (Gary) Willis of Essexville, MI; nine grandchildren Scott (Molly), Jeff, Brian Vachon all of Bay City, MI, Lisa (Jack) Jayo of Midland, MI, Michelle (John) Hill of Fife Lake, MI, Dena (Steve) Daher of Brighton, MI, Jodie(Paul) Romzek of Midland, MI, Amy Vachon of Vergennes, VT and Sabra (Chris) Chiurri of Melrose, Ma; thirteen great-grandchildren Nicholas, Karlee, Joshua and Corinne Vachon, Andrew Daher and Arianna Schanhals, Richard, Jonathan and Samantha Jayo, Tristan and Taylor Hill and Maxwell Chiurri ; and one great-great grandchild Caileigh Jayo; three sisters Gertrude Caron of Johnson VT, Therese Carrier of Saint Hermenegilde, Quebec, Canada and Normande Messier of Northfield, VT. Irene was predeceased in death by her husband, Albert Joseph Vachon in 1978, as well as, six brothers and two sisters. The family would like to thank the caregivers of Sterling House and Clare Bridge of Bay City and Brittany Manor in Midland for the loving, compassionate care Irene received. The Funeral Liturgy and Rite of Committal will take place at St. Jude Thaddeus Parish - St. John Church, 614 Pine St., in Essexville on Friday, April 10, 2015 at 10:00am. The Celebrant will be Rev. Fr. Robert J. DeLand. Private interment will be at Floral Gardens Cemetery. Friends may call at the Gephart Funeral Home, Inc., 201 W. Midland St., in Bay City where the family will be present on Thursday, April 9, 2015 from 4:00-8:00pm and at the church on Friday from 9:00am to the time of Liturgy. A Vigil Prayer Service will take place at 7:00pm on Thursday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude Catholic Church, the Alzheimer's Association or Special Olympics. www.gephartfuneralhome.com