Patricia M. Ireland

It is with profound sadness that we wish to announce the peaceful passing of our beloved mother, Patricia May (Whitten) Ireland on October 23, 2025, in her home of 59 years following a very short illness surrounded by family members. She was born in Gloucester, MA to Georgia (MacInnis) and George Whitten on Oct 1,1929. She had just recently enjoyed her 96th Birthday with many friends and family gathered outside on a gloriously sunny day.
Pat, as she was most known for, began her life with her husband Orville several years after they each graduated from Gloucester High School. She would only smile when posed the question of did she or did not woo him from one of her high school chums. She often talked about her love of the Glee Club during her high school years. No surprise she married her husband who was headed to West Point. She remained very patriotic even up to her last summer with us, enjoying all Gloucester's 4th of July events. She loved listening and singing to patriotic or marching band music. Each year she never knew who to hope would win the Army and Navy football game so she would wave both flags- her mother and four brothers being Navy Vets but her husband being an Army Vet. She initially had designs on being a nurse and began her studies after high school. Her eventual marriage led her to be that of an Officer's wife where they lived in such places as Japan (for nearly two years) then on to Amityville, Long Island where her first two sons were born. Following her husband's retirement from his twelve years of military training, they then settled down in Billerica, MA nearer to his employment where they continued to raise a family of four, as a daughter and another son were born.
They moved back to their beloved Gloucester in 1966 where a fifth child, another daughter, was born.
Pat was a supportive mom encouraging her five children to join in many varied sports, clubs and other activities. She somehow managed, flawlessly, to keep her five children busy. She was a woman of many talents, from being an amazing cook to dedicated homemaker and talented seamstress (making a lot of her own and her daughters clothing and Easter hats).
In addition to being devoted to her children and husband, she was amazingly artistic, being blessed with an array of other creative talents. She was known to make "something out of nothing". She could take what looked like weeds to most, turning them into beautiful wreaths. Pat was also quite handy using her creative knowledge to fix or reuse/recycle many items most folks would toss away. She was very handy with tools for this purpose. Pat took up oil painting in her mid-30s. She was an avid gardener with an admirable yard right up into her late 80s. Along with getting her hands dirty in the garden she enjoyed camping with her husband and family. Typically "in the rough" no family style, chock full of recreational activities for us kids for her, but in quiet out of the way places where she could send us kids off to pick blueberries! In much later years she loved to attend weekend Bluegrass Festivals with her husband and other family members. One time setting up our old eight-man tent on her own, after her husband had passed, determined to attend one of their favorite Bluegrass festivals camping spots in memoriam of him. This, being in her early 80! She also enjoyed going up to NH to her brother Rob's camp where fond memories were made by all. She loved to pick blueberries and cranberries and even the same raspberries that she picked as a child each year, turning them all into delightfully tasting desserts and jams to be given away or brought to church and other functions.
Pat was a devout Christian, growing up in her mother's Methodist Church with her last decades as a member of the Gloucester Assembly of God where she served for over 30 years volunteering one day a week as a clerical aide as well as taking the church attendance for many of those years. She volunteered for many years after church leading Sunday singalongs at two local nursing homes. She led the singing at Bible Study groups. She also was a proud member of the Manchester Chorus for 37 years. Pat also volunteered for many years as Girl Scout leader, bringing to the groups her many talents while inspiring many young girls.
Pat was an amazing talented woman of many things and achievements but most of all she spent her adult years devoted and supportive to all her children. She taught us all much more than we could ever thank her for.
She is survived by her children, Kevin of Beverly MA, Steven (Terrie) of Fort Collins, CO, Laurie of Swanville, ME, Kenneth (Kathy) of Plaistow, NH, and Elaine of Gloucester, Pat's sister Eleanor Spence of Carbondale, CO, and brother Robert (Anne) Whitten of Gloucester. She also leaves behind 4 granddaughters and 2 grandsons and 6 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Pat was predeceased by her mother and father, Georgia Whitten (MacInnis) and George Whitten; husband, Orville (Brud); brothers, George Jr. (Duddy) of West Palm Beach FL, Ralph and James of Gloucester, Stanley of Palo Alto CA, Pat's sister's daughter and son; her niece, Terry Spence and nephew Colin both of Aspen, CO; her brother's daughter, her niece, Dotty of West Palm Beach, FL; and her dear cousin, Shirley Duffy of Essex, MA.
An intimate Celebration of Life, private to her family and closest friends will occur on November 15, 2025, at the Assembly of God Church.
Mom, we all love you and will miss you very much, but we also know you have been brought in peace to your eternal home.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to her church, Assembly of God on 211 Washington Street, Gloucester, or to Shriners Hospital for Children or to Open Door of Gloucester.