Irie Annette Rohan

Irie Annette Rohan

(January 17, 1932 – November 4, 2025)

Irie Annette Rohan, passed away in the early morning of November 4, 2025, at her home in Silver Spring, Maryland. Born on January 17, 1932, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, she was the fourth daughter of eight girls born to Frederick Irad Rohan and Marie Eliza Lake. They immigrated from the French Caribbean Island of St. Martin to New York in the early 1920s, and settled on Staten Island, among a large Caribbean community of friends and family.

Irie fondly remembered her father, known as "Irad," who passed away when she was around 12. He was a clothes presser, and she often spoke of caring for him when he was ailing. Her mother, affectionately called "Za" held the family together – creating a tight bond that lasts through today. Irie attended Curtis High School and married Claudius A. Harris of Staten Island, on November 20, 1952. Together they had 3 daughters and a son before divorcing in 1963.

With the help of her large family, Irie raised her four children as a single parent. At age 39, she completed a Community Scholars program offering college-level courses to economically disadvantaged adults. She spent most of her working life in human services, primarily as a counselor for the Manpower Training Center, a secretary for the N.A.A.C.P, and as an assistant to the Chaplains at Fort Jay, Governors Island. In 1977 she moved her family to Southern California after a trip to visit a friend. There she found work with the State of California, retiring after 24 years from the Workers Compensation and Appeals Board.

Annette, as she began to call herself after her daughter Irie grew into her own name, was known for her strength, straightforward character, uplifting spirit, and for being the life of the party. As a young woman she loved singing as she did chores, grew into jazz, and sang hymns. She loved writing long letters, reading, dancing, crocheting, needlepoint, nurturing plants, and took up painting in her 70s. At age 80,she moved herself back to the East Coast and happily lived out the last 13 years in Leisure WorldComplex of Maryland where she hosted many spirited holiday gatherings with family – her greatest pride and joy. Annette believed God watched over her and her kids, praying daily, and humming favorite hymns and popular songs.

Our beloved Mommy, Sister, Auntie and Nanny is survived by her children Claudius Harris Jr., Irie Harris-Mitchell, and Diedra Harris-Kelley; her grandchildren Tiauna Coe, Claudius Harris, III, JamareHarris, Elleza Kelley, and Idris Mitchell; great-granddaughters Sarai, Crue, and great-grandson Cade; Her sisters Marie Rohan, Gloria ELBoushi, Dolores Rohan, and Sheila Rohan; niece Charlene Muhammad,and many more loving nieces and nephews. She also leaves many loving friends across New York, Southern California, and Maryland. She was preceded in death by her daughter Claudine Allison (d. 2011); and sisters Nanette Bearden, Evelyn Jackson, and Dorothe Dow.

A "Celebration of Life," will be held in Maryland at a later date and live streamed for those who wish to join in the family's tribute to Irie Annette Rohan.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you donate to the Romare Bearden Foundation, the nonprofit founded by her sister Nanette Rohan Bearden, in memory of Irie Annette Rohan.

https://romarebeardenfoundation-bloom.kindful.com/