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Irene Stafford Obituary
Born and raised in Gilroy California to parents Seraphim and Adeline Laranjo. One of six children: Annie , Mary, Adeline, Irene, Joanne and John, she was active in sports and graduated from Gilroy High in 1947. Her family then moved to San Jose, where she attended San Jose State University, and received her BS in education. Irene started her teaching career in 1951 at Rancho elementary school in the Cupertino school district. In 1952 at a military dance in Moffett Field she met the love of her life, Calvin Stafford Junior, a Navy man from Gulfport, MS. They married in June 1953.
In 1955, while pregnant with their first son Andy, Irene became the first teacher in her school district allowed to teach while pregnant. She continued working at Rancho elementary and in 1957 Kathy was born, in 1959, Liz was born. In 1960 Cal's job transferred him to Levittown Long Island. Once again pregnant, she taught third grade and in 1961 Kevin was born. Moving back to California Ray was born in 1962 and Bart in 1964. In 1966 they bought their forever home in the Santa Cruz mountains.
In 1968 Irene started her career at Williams Elementary school in San Jose, where she became a master teacher! She taught there for 27 years until 1995, when she retired. Calvin retired the same year and they traveled around the world, visiting Jerusalem, and most of the sites with the Virgin Mary was seen. When their travel days were over, they participated in Catholic Carrillo's and joined art groups at community centers in Saratoga and Los Gatos making good friends and beautiful art!
Irene leaves behind her children: Andy Stafford, Kathy (Hal) Preston, Liz Rains, Kevin (Kelly) Stafford, Ray (Francesca)Stafford and Bart Stafford, grandchildren: Forrest (Francine) Brissey, Sandra (Juan) Moreno Jr, Lauren Santora, Dawn (Damian) Jacobs, five great grandchildren, two great, great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, all dearly loved. She is preceded in death by her husband, Calvin A Stafford Jr, her parents, Serafim and Adeline, all of her siblings, a nephew, 2 nieces and son-in-law Scotty Rains.
The funeral mass and celebration of life will be on October 31, 2024 at 11 AM at Christ Child Chapel, 23230 Summit Rd. in Los Gatos. Family and friends are welcome. A private burial will take place in Gilroy on Friday, November 1, 2024 at Saint Mary's cemetery. For more information email Liz at [email protected] in lieu of flowers please consider donations to Christ Child Chapel.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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