Irene Fearnside Obituary

Irene M. (Greenwood) Fearnside, a resident of Reading for 59 years, passed away at her home on October 31, 2024, with her daughter by her side.  She was 95 years of age.

Irene was born in Halifax, England on March 29, 1929, the daughter of Willie and Leonora M. (Wade) Greenwood.

Irene was raised in England. After leaving school she started her own hair dressing business in her local village.  While working she met her husband Eric on a blind date.  After marrying and the birth of their son Paul, they immigrated to Toronto, Canada in the late 1950’s and while living their new life welcomed their daughter Glenda. In the mid 1960’s they immigrated to Reading, Massachusetts and bought a home where Irene has resided for the last 59 years.

Irene worked for the Town of Reading for many years in several of the schools cafeterias working her way up to manager. She loved all the children she had day-to-day contact with and they loved her English accent. She was an avid reader and spent time knitting cardigans for newborn babies and little vests for teddy bears.

She enjoyed watching both her son and daughter compete on the RMHS track teams and started assisting the coaches with stopwatch timing at practices and meets. She was thrilled to be included with the 1982 Girls Indoor Track Team when they were inducted into the RMHS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001.

Irene was the beloved wife of the late Eric Fearnside. Devoted mother of Glenda Fearnside of Reading and the late Paul Fearnside.  Cherished sister of John Greenwood and his wife Marjorie Greenwood of Halifax, England and the late Enid Gledhill.  Loving grandmother of Amy Vernon and her husband Brian Hewson, Adam Vernon and his partner Sara Rhuda, Emily Hanson and her husband Mark Hanson, and Ben Fearnside and his wife Leah Fearnside.  And great grandmother of Miller Hewson, Micah Hanson, and Emmett and Ella Fearnside.

Funeral services and burial for Irene are private and there are no visiting hours.  In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Irene’s memory to The Community Family Dutton Adult Day Center, 1117 Main St., Wakefield MA 01880