Irene M. Carpenter

Irene M. Carpenter, 85, of South Windsor and formerly of Enfield and Florida, entered into her eternal rest on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008, at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford.

Born on Nov. 11, 1923, in Hartford, she was the daughter of the late Frank B. and Eva A. (Lord) Mercer. Prior to her retirement, Irene was employed by Pratt & Whitney Aircraft for over 20 years. In her leisure time, she enjoyed caring for her cat, Snookie, cooking, reading, crocheting, and knitting, especially with the ladies of the Flax Hill Knitting Club. Irene had a wonderful sense of humor and she enjoyed making her friends and family laugh. A lover of hats, Irene had an extensive collection and could often be seen wearing one.

Irene is survived by her children, Joan C. Dunne of Somers, Harold Edmund Carpenter Jr. and his wife, Virginia, of Marlboro, Mass., Frank Vincent Carpenter and his wife, Roseanne, of Enfield, and Mark Douglas Carpenter of East Hampton; a sister, Joan Labriola of Westbrook; her grandchildren, Jeanne Dunne, JoAnn Harmon, Joseph Carpenter, Richard Carpenter, Denise Carpenter, Shannon Carpenter, and Katherine Carpenter; her great-grandson, Pierce Carpenter, and many nieces and nephews.

A procession will form at the Leete-Stevens Enfield Chapels, 61 South Road, Enfield, on Monday, Dec. 1, 2008, at 9 a.m. to St. Bernard Church, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial for Irene will be private and held at the convenience of the family.

Relatives and friends may call on Irene's family on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008, at the Leete-Stevens Enfield Chapels from 2 to 4 p.m.

For directions, or to leave an online expression of sympathy, please visit:

www.leetestevens.com