Genevieve R. Ireland

Genevieve R. (Weeks) Ireland, 100, of Main Street, died peacefully at home on Saturday, July 26th.

She was born on the 12th of September 1907, in St. Albans, ME, daughter of the late Albeon and Cassie (Rogers) Weeks. She married in Palmyra, ME on the 7th of September 1927 to Donald A. Ireland, former owner of the Frye Boot Company, Marlborough, who predeceased her on the 5th of August 1985.

She is survived by her three daughters, Joyce Hokans, Janet Delorey, and Judith Jepson and her husband Walter, all of Shrewsbury; her brother, Rudolph D. Weeks and his wife Penny of Port Charlotte, FL; her nine grandchildren, John Ducat, Jr., Elizabeth (Ducat) Fitzpatrick, James Ducat and his wife Adrienne, John Delorey, Elizabeth (Delorey) Pouliot and her husband Donald, Donald Delorey and his wife Rebecca, Julie (Jepson) Shuster and her husband Peter, Thomas Jepson and his wife Deborah, and David Jepson, nineteen great grandchildren, three great great grandchildren, and her devoted caregivers, Donna Bisceglia, Ruth Gain, Kathleen O'Neill, Barbara Avery, and Beverly Ioh. She was predeceased by her sister, Sylvia (Weeks) LaFleur.

Mrs. Ireland was a graduate of Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield, and the Castine (ME) Normal School, where she trained as a teacher. Her first assignment was a one room school on Barter's Island, ME, which challenged and enhanced her creativity as a teacher. After her marriage, she and her family resided in Gardiner, ME until 1943, when the family moved to Shrewsbury. She became active in Girl Scouts, and her work was recognized by being awarded the "Thanks Badge", the highest honor given in Girl Scouting. Mrs. Ireland was the moving force in the formation of the Episcopal Mission, now the Trinity Church in Shrewsbury, of which she was a charter member. An avid and talented genealogist, she traced her heritage to several Mayflower passengers, and was accepted as a member of the Rhode Island Chapter of the Mayflower Descendants. Her interest in the preservation of Maine history resulted in the publication of the early history and records of Palmyra, ME. She was also a member of the Maine Historical Society and an active volunteer of Maine Old Cemetery Association. Mrs. Ireland was honored with a membership in the American Antiquarian Society, was a member of the Stella Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, and the Shrewsbury Women's Club.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Genevieve's family on Tuesday, July 29th from 4-7 PM in the Britton-Shrewsbury Funeral Home, 648 Main St., Shrewsbury. Her funeral service will be held on Wednesday July 30th at 11AM in Trinity Episcopal Church, 440 Main Street, Shrewsbury. Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery, Shrewsbury. In lieu of sending flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Discretionary Fund, Trinity Episcopal Church, 440 Main Street, Shrewsbury, MA 01545 or to the Donald and Genevieve Ireland Fund, American Antiquarian Society, 185 Salisbury St., Worcester, MA 01609. For directions or leave online message of sympathy for the Ireland Family, please visit

brittonfuneralhomes.com