Irene T. Hamilton

SKOWHEGAN -- Irene T. (Quirion) Hamilton, 101, of Skowhegan, passed away Thursday April 21, 2011, in Madison.

She was born May 11, 1909, in Grand Isle, daughter of Amable (Mack) Tardiff and Euphemie M. Ouellette Tardiff.

She graduated from Goodwill High School, Hinckley, in 1928. She received her bachelor's degree from Colby College in 1932 and her master's degree from the University of Maine in Orono in 1953.

Mrs. Hamilton started her teaching career at Freedom Academy. Subsequently, she taught at Telstar High School in Andover, and Skowhegan High School, where she taught French, Spanish and geography. She moved to Portland and taught at Deering High School. While at Deering, she became department chairman. After her retirement from Deering, she taught Spanish at Katherine McCauley High School in Portland for three years and retired in 1979.

While in Skowhegan, she was the recipient of the Frank M. Gilley Scholarship. Mr. Gilley, a Harvard professor, provided a fund to be used to pay for international trips. Mr. Gilley desired that teachers go into the country districts of France, and live in private homes in order to acquire the common spoken language of the people and to observe the daily life and customs of the people. Mrs. Hamilton had to prepare her own itinerary, selecting places of interest. She wrote to the chambers of commerce of various communities in order to confirm the homes in which she would reside. She considered these trips very valuable, not only for teaching the French language but teaching French customs and culture to her students. While at Deering High School, under the auspices of the Foreign Language League of Salt Lake City, she escorted two groups of students to France to study the languages and culture of the French people. The first group, during the summer of 1966, spent three weeks in Evian les Bains on Lake Geneva and three weeks in Versailles. The second group, during the summer of 1969, went to Antibles, on the French Riviera and to Rembouillet. Mornings were spent in class; afternoons were used for excursions that included museums, churches or whatever was of interest in the area where they were staying. Swimming, basketball and volleyball were a few of the activities available to the league participants. Weekends usually were occupied with longer over-night excursions. She particularly enjoyed the trips to France, as both she and her students were able to enjoy and study the historic cities, museums, artists and customs.

Mrs. Hamilton was a former member of the American Association of Teachers of French and the Portland Chapter of L'Alliance Francoise. For many years, until her death, she was a member of the Maine Education Association, the Maine State Retirement system, the Somerset Retired Teachers Association and of Xi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. She was also a past president of the Beta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma while teaching in Portland.

Mrs. Hamilton loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She liked to knit, crochet and embroider. She was an avid reader, enjoyed playing bridge and doing crossword puzzles, and loved to cook. She spent her summers at Lake Wesserunsett, where she enjoyed her summer retreat with all the outdoor activities and visits with family and friends.

She is survived by a son, Austin L. Quirion and wife Angela of Skowhegan and Hudson, Fla.; a daughter, Deane Q. King and husband Richard, also of Skowhegan and Hudson; one sister, Althea T. Smith, of Houston, Texas; two brothers, Dr. Donald M. Tardiff and wife Lynn of East Weymouth, Mass., and Richard C. Tardiff of Whitesboro, N.Y.; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She is predeceased by her parents; two brothers, Lewis J. Tardiff and C. Emery Tardiff, of Fairfield; and two sisters, Sr. Mary Christina (Aurice) of South Bend, Ind., and Lucille T. Stevens of Akron, Ohio.

At her request, there will be no calling hours. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at a later date to be announced. Burial will occur at Saint Francis Cemetery in Waterville, at a later date.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan.

In lieu of flowers, and at her request, memorial donations may be made payable to the Irene T. Hamilton Scholarship Fund and sent to Skowhegan Area High School, c/o Jane Bigelow, 61 Academy Circle, Skowhegan, ME 04976.

Notes of remembrance may be left for the family at www.smartandedwardsfh.com.