Irene M. Belakowski

ATHOL - Irene M. (Venezia) (Olsiewski) Belakowski, 88, of Athol, died on Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at the Baldwinville Nursing Home. She was born in Cambridge on August 5, 1922, the daughter of the late Joseph and the late Josephine (Matuk) Olsiewski. Irene was raised and educated in Cambridge and moved to Westwood in the 1940s. She worked for Metropolitan Pipe Company in Cambridge as a clerk and later moved to Littleton. Irene has resided in Athol since 1972 and worked as a secretary for the Department of Transitional Assistance in Greenfield for over fifteen years. Upon her retirement, Mrs. Belakowski volunteered at the Athol Memorial Hospital for several years. She was a member of the Athol Gun Club and a communicant of St. Francis of Assisi Church. She was an excellent baker and enjoyed cooking meals for her family. Irene enjoyed fishing, gardening, sewing and spending time with her beloved dogs. She leaves her sister, Jane McGrath and her husband Edward of Marshfield; her brother, Henry Olsiewski and his wife Julia of Marion; two nieces, Paula and Karen; two nephews, Mark and Edward Jr.; and many local friends. She was predeceased by her first husband, Albert Venezia, married ten years until his passing in 1955; and her husband of forty-seven years, Anthony Belakowski, on June 11, 2005. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 11:30 a.m. in St. Francis Of Assisi Church, 101 Main St., Athol. Burial will follow in Massachusetts Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, Winchendon. A calling hour will be held Thursday, December 30, 2010 from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. at the Murphy Funeral Home, 137 Main Street, Athol. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made in her memory to St. Francis of Assisi Church, 101 Main St., Athol, MA 01331 or to a charity of one's choice. $(document).ready(function(){ });