ROSE HILL — Irene Margueritte Desmarais Souza, 66, formerly of Warwick, Rhode Island, and Manville, Rhode Island, passed away Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at Lower Cape Fear Hospice, Wilmington.
Irene was born Jan. 14, 1953, in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, to the late Raymond and Marie Rose Desmarais of Manville, Rhode Island. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 44 years, James “Skip” Souza.
Irene is survived by her only child, Jason “Jay” Souza, and his wife, Lindsey; two grandsons, Travis and Riley Souza; brothers, Roger Desmarais (Sue) of Isabella, Missouri, and Gerry Desmarais (Lori) of Wakefield, New Hampshire; “adopted” son, David Lallier; and dear friend, Kathryn Williford.
She was a graduate of Lincoln High School, in Lincoln, Rhode Island, and then worked at Amperex Electronics and Electric Boat. Soon after high school, she became pen pals with a young Marine, serving in the Vietnam War at the time, who became the love of her life. Irene and Skip moved to North Carolina in the 1990s, where the warmer climate was much more to her liking. She enjoyed spending time at the beach, eating seafood, shopping and the solitude of country living.
She was never far from Skip’s side once he retired as he tinkered around in the yard and his shop. Irene was never seen without bright pink painted fingernails, and it took her weeks to wrap Christmas presents because she had to put tight, curly ribbons on each one. She was relentlessly teased by the men in her life about something or another, all the time, and it amused her greatly. She was immensely proud of her family and was a loving wife, mom, Memere and friend and will be dearly missed.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26, at Andrews Mortuary, Hampstead Chapel. The family will receive visitors at the home of Jay Souza afterwards at 101 Derby Lane, Hampstead.
Share online condolences with the family at Andrews Mortuary & Crematory.
