Obituary for Irene B. Gillette
It is with deep sadness to convey the passing of our Beloved Mother, Irene Gillette, age 85, who passed on January 5, 2022, with her loving daughters by her side.
Irene (“Renie”) was born on March 27, 1936, as Irene Ward, to beloved parents, John Ward and Mary McNeely. Her grandparents immigrated from Ireland and when they settled, they arrived and stayed in the West Village where Irene and her siblings grew up. Renie’s father, John, was a longshoreman and her Mom, Mary, was a homemaker. Renie is one of four siblings, she leaves a beloved sister, Bernadette (“Bunny”) Rivera, and is predeceased by two brothers, Francis (“Brother”) and John (“Jackie”) Ward.
Renie married her childhood sweetheart, the late Raymond Gillette, at the age of 19, they were happily married for 36 years until he passed in October 1990, they had four daughters, Linda, Janet, Kathy and Irene. Renie and Raymond did everything together, they were childhood sweethearts and enjoyed going out, they loved going to the Jersey shore in the summers when their children were small, they enjoyed trips to the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Arizona, and various places, they enjoyed the racetrack, visiting Atlantic City, attending Oldie’s concerts and went out on weekends for dinner and to the movies, they enjoyed life together to the fullest. The last movie Renie and Raymond saw together was “Goodfellas” in 1990, Raymond loved that movie, sadly he passed away a month later. After that, Renie would never enter a movie theater again without Raymond, that was 32 years ago. She loved Raymond with all her heart and now they are together in Heaven.
Renie enjoyed life, she loved music and dancing, she favored the Oldies But Goodies Songs of the 1950’s era. At parties, Renie would frequently do the Lindy dance with her sister, Bunny, and the two of them could dance the night away and no one could outshine them. One of Renie’s favorite singer’s was Roy Oribson, Raymond dedicated one of Roy’s song’s to her which was “Anything You Want You Got It”. When Renie would hear this song, she would think of Raymond, and now when we hear this song, we will think of them both.
Renie was a native New Yorker and loved the city, but she also enjoyed spending summer weekends with Raymond and her family at the Pocono family house in PA. They both loved the Poconos, and after his passing, she continued to go there with family. It was always a special weekend when Nanny came, the grandchildren and great grandchildren could not wait to be with her. She was a joy having her there and it always more fun when Nanny was in the Poconos, it was like Christmas again. Renie loved her family immensely and had an extremely good sense of humor, we had a great time with her, and she would leave all of us with an everlasting smile on our faces and with wonderful stories. She has touched all our hearts.
Renie was a dedicated Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother. She was caring, compassionate and everyone enjoyed being in her company as she was the life of the party and very young at heart. She treasured all her children and embraced every moment with them. She especially loved her role as Nanny having eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren and all the children adored her in return. They would frequently call her asking her to go out with them, even in her 80’s, they asked her for her opinion and advice at times, she was honest, truthful and would tell you exactly what she thought. If you wanted a truthful answer to a question, you would go to Nanny, she was direct and decisive, she was never at loss for an answer.
Mom loved animals and she had a German Shepherd dog named Princess. Princess lived for 17 years and when Princess passed, Renie could not bring herself to get another dog after Princess, she kept Princess’ memory in her heart instead.
Renie leaves her loving memories to be cherished by her family, daughters, Linda and her husband Vinny Soldi, Janet Gillette McKenna, Irene and her husband Danny Hanley. Renie adored her eight grandchildren, Jennifer D’Amato and husband Jon D’Amato, Nicole Soldi, Jimmy McKenna, Brianne Hanley, Danny Hanley, RaeAnne McKenna, Skylar Hanley and Kallie Hanley. She also cherished being a Great Grandmother to Gianna and Dominic D’Amato who she idolized, and they loved her back the very same.
A Funeral Mass will be held in her honor on Tuesday, January 11th at 9:30 am at Saint Francis of Assisi Church,135 West 31st Street, New York, NY 10001. Immediately following the Mass, Renie will be joined with her beloved husband, Raymond, and beloved daughter, Kathy, at Prospect Cemetery in East Stroudsburg, PA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital as this was one of her favorite charities.
Irene (“Renie”) was born on March 27, 1936, as Irene Ward, to beloved parents, John Ward and Mary McNeely. Her grandparents immigrated from Ireland and when they settled, they arrived and stayed in the West Village where Irene and her siblings grew up. Renie’s father, John, was a longshoreman and her Mom, Mary, was a homemaker. Renie is one of four siblings, she leaves a beloved sister, Bernadette (“Bunny”) Rivera, and is predeceased by two brothers, Francis (“Brother”) and John (“Jackie”) Ward.
Renie married her childhood sweetheart, the late Raymond Gillette, at the age of 19, they were happily married for 36 years until he passed in October 1990, they had four daughters, Linda, Janet, Kathy and Irene. Renie and Raymond did everything together, they were childhood sweethearts and enjoyed going out, they loved going to the Jersey shore in the summers when their children were small, they enjoyed trips to the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Arizona, and various places, they enjoyed the racetrack, visiting Atlantic City, attending Oldie’s concerts and went out on weekends for dinner and to the movies, they enjoyed life together to the fullest. The last movie Renie and Raymond saw together was “Goodfellas” in 1990, Raymond loved that movie, sadly he passed away a month later. After that, Renie would never enter a movie theater again without Raymond, that was 32 years ago. She loved Raymond with all her heart and now they are together in Heaven.
Renie enjoyed life, she loved music and dancing, she favored the Oldies But Goodies Songs of the 1950’s era. At parties, Renie would frequently do the Lindy dance with her sister, Bunny, and the two of them could dance the night away and no one could outshine them. One of Renie’s favorite singer’s was Roy Oribson, Raymond dedicated one of Roy’s song’s to her which was “Anything You Want You Got It”. When Renie would hear this song, she would think of Raymond, and now when we hear this song, we will think of them both.
Renie was a native New Yorker and loved the city, but she also enjoyed spending summer weekends with Raymond and her family at the Pocono family house in PA. They both loved the Poconos, and after his passing, she continued to go there with family. It was always a special weekend when Nanny came, the grandchildren and great grandchildren could not wait to be with her. She was a joy having her there and it always more fun when Nanny was in the Poconos, it was like Christmas again. Renie loved her family immensely and had an extremely good sense of humor, we had a great time with her, and she would leave all of us with an everlasting smile on our faces and with wonderful stories. She has touched all our hearts.
Renie was a dedicated Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother. She was caring, compassionate and everyone enjoyed being in her company as she was the life of the party and very young at heart. She treasured all her children and embraced every moment with them. She especially loved her role as Nanny having eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren and all the children adored her in return. They would frequently call her asking her to go out with them, even in her 80’s, they asked her for her opinion and advice at times, she was honest, truthful and would tell you exactly what she thought. If you wanted a truthful answer to a question, you would go to Nanny, she was direct and decisive, she was never at loss for an answer.
Mom loved animals and she had a German Shepherd dog named Princess. Princess lived for 17 years and when Princess passed, Renie could not bring herself to get another dog after Princess, she kept Princess’ memory in her heart instead.
Renie leaves her loving memories to be cherished by her family, daughters, Linda and her husband Vinny Soldi, Janet Gillette McKenna, Irene and her husband Danny Hanley. Renie adored her eight grandchildren, Jennifer D’Amato and husband Jon D’Amato, Nicole Soldi, Jimmy McKenna, Brianne Hanley, Danny Hanley, RaeAnne McKenna, Skylar Hanley and Kallie Hanley. She also cherished being a Great Grandmother to Gianna and Dominic D’Amato who she idolized, and they loved her back the very same.
A Funeral Mass will be held in her honor on Tuesday, January 11th at 9:30 am at Saint Francis of Assisi Church,135 West 31st Street, New York, NY 10001. Immediately following the Mass, Renie will be joined with her beloved husband, Raymond, and beloved daughter, Kathy, at Prospect Cemetery in East Stroudsburg, PA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital as this was one of her favorite charities.