Irene M LaRue

Irene M LaRue Athol - Irene M LaRue (Boudreau) 92 of South Royalston Road, died peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at Applewood Home for Elders. Irene was born in Athol on August 11, 1930, the daughter of Emile and Lucy Boudreau. Except for short periods in Florida and Indiana, she lived in Athol all of her life, in 1948 she graduated from Athol High School. She was a cheerleader, relived it her entire life with stories, and belted out cheers through her last days. 

She worked different jobs over the years from catering to supermarket cashier, culminating in the job she loved in Department Six at L.S Starrett Company, where she retired in 1995. Years earlier her father also retired from Starretts. But the job the family always heard about the most was her double paper route in the Hapgood Street area during tough times in the early 1940s. In an era of paperboys, she was proud to be the only girl delivering the Athol Daily News.

She leaves 6 children Daniel, Lee Ann, Jacklyn, Douglas, and wife Marla, Donald, David, 11 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her brother Raymond Boudreau, former husband Vince LaRue, and many relatives and dear friends.

Irene reinvented herself as the children left the nest. She was not afraid to venture out on her own, taking up cross-country skiing, and then finding a new passion for cycling. She cycled for multiple decades, often cycling for MS charity events, doing numerous century rides, and traveling overseas for a Swiss bike tour. She was a prolific walker for many years and could be seen walking through town and around Silver Lake. 

During alone time she enjoyed knitting, crocheting, solitaire, watching old classic movies and TV shows -- reliving the times when she would mimic the mannerisms of actors and sing songs from movies to her children.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, March 30, 2023, from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. in the Fiske Murphy and Mack Funeral Home, 110 New Athol Road, Orange, MA 01364. 
There will be no funeral services. 

To leave an online condolence please visit, www.mackfamilyfh.com

Kevin J. Mack, Walter C. Taylor, and Melissa McQuaid, funeral directors