Obituary of Marie "Irene" Sheehan

Marie “Irene” Sheehan, 94, Passed away on Sunday May 22, 2017 at the Pilgrim Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Peabody MA. She was born to Urgel and Amanda (Boucher) Archambault on June 1, 1922. Raised and educated in Peabody, she attended St. John the Baptist and Peabody High School and was a lifelong resident. Irene worked as a seamstress, making wedding gowns and dance costumes prior to working for the Peabody school system for 30 years. She managed the cafeterias at Kennedy Jr High and Higgins Middle school, where she was known to run a tight ship and was affectionately nick named “the warden”. She loved being around the students and her coworkers. In 1962 she organized the Peabody School Lunch Organization to award scholarships to needy children. In 1968 she organized the Peabody Vietnam Committee to send care packages to our servicemen. Following her retirement, she assisted her daughter, June, with the daily operations of Elita’s Flowers on Main Street for 10 years before its closing. Irene was a loving mother and who created a warm and welcoming home for her family and later was so proud of grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her hobbies included boating and was a past member of Palmer Cove Yacht Club, enjoyed ballroom dancing, traveling with her many friends and bingo. Many will remember her as a Friday night regular at the Century House. She was a firm believer of living life to the fullest and lead by example. Irene is survived by her adoring daughters June Flynn of Beverly and Jill Ryan of Peabody her cherished grandchildren, Paul Parsons and his wife Liz, Mark, Mickey and Leonard Parsons, William and Robin Flynn, Mathew Ryan and his wife Jennifer, Amanda and Sarah Ryan, 11 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was also predeceased by two husbands, Leonard F. Parsons and John A. Sheehan, her loving son, Paul Parsons, two brothers, Armand and Leo Archambault and a longtime companion, Walter Coombs. Her family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday May 25th, from 4-8 p.m. at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home at 82 Lynn St. Peabody. Her funeral will be held at 10 a.m. from the funeral home on Friday, May 26th followed by her Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church, 16 Church Street, Peabody. A private family committal of ashes will be held at a later date. Please visit www.ccbfuneral.com for directions, online obituary and memorial guest book.