Irene Louise (Beadnell) Peterson

ORONO -
Irene Louise (Beadnell) Peterson entered eternal life on August 10th, 2022 at her daughter Lori's home in Old Town. She was born to Herbert Leslie Beadnell II and Irene Louise (Rowe) Beadnell on July 5, 1946 in New Kensington, PA. The family moved to Maine when Irene was a toddler and soon thereafter bought a farm on outer Essex Street in Orono where she grew up.

It was Easter Sunday when Bryant N. Peterson, from Massachusetts who was serving at Dow Airforce Base, was brought to the farm by a neighborhood friend. Once laying eyes on Irene, it was love-at-first-sight for Bryant. He worked tenaciously to win her love and several years later they eloped on September 5, 1964. In June 1966 they bought their forever home - which happened to be the home of that same neighborhood friend who introduced them. This is a love-story Bryant proudly told often to see his lovely bride blush. Together, they enjoyed time in their forever home's vegetable and flower gardens which their neighbors and friends admired. They also humbly served their community through activities sponsored by their church.

Irene taught her son Larry a deep sense of honesty. Once having Larry put money back on the side of the road where he found it. Larry learned it was always better to be honest, pay the piper, and grow, than to attempt to keep a lie going.

Irene ignited in her daughter Lori a passion for creativity, crafts, and sewing using rainy days as the backdrop for Lori's fondest memories of their time together. Irene was Lori's champion while Lori served as Miss Teen Greater Bangor in the months of preparation leading up to, and including, the Miss Teen Maine Pageant; an experience where Irene instilled in her daughter the value of inner beauty and love of community.

Irene was her daughter Sheri's biggest fan. While Irene worked full-time, she rarely missed a game in the four years of Sheri cheerleading in high school. She enjoyed shopping with Sheri at her favorite clothing store where Irene was a model for store fashion shows. They also participated in road races together, and in 2016 at age 70, Irene won her age group at the Pie in the Sky 5K run in her hometown of Orono, Maine.

Irene was a devoted Grammy and "G.G." great-grammy. She was by the side of both her daughters for the birth of several grandchildren. Irene especially cherished time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren and imparted on them a love of reading, music, gardening, crafts, cooking, and she shared her faith in God. During Irene's years with aphasia & dementia several grandchildren and great-grandchildren lovingly aided Lori in her at-home care.

Irene shared a pursuit in Genealogy with her mother and daughter, Lori. As a gift to her mother, she compiled the stories, photos, and genealogy into a family calendar and a book. Irene’s two passions, Jesus and Children, were both enjoyed by teaching Sunday School in the many church communities she served in as well as when she taught at GTA (a private Christian school). Through these she was adopted-in-heart by many children & young adults as “Mom”, this includes Shelly Sockwell who compassionately served Irene as her hospice CNA. Irene was exceptionally talented, and her accomplishments were numerous and vast, she excelled at everything she put her hand, heart, or mind to. Irene was voted Most Athletic by her senior class at Orono High School, she later enjoyed monthly Pat's Pizza luncheons with these life-long friends from Orono High School. She also achieved high honors at Husson College. She was nationally top in sales for an interior decorating company where she won a vacation to Disney World that remains a favorite memory for her children. She was a sought-after bookkeeper and legal secretary at several reputable Bangor-area law firms. Irene worked with her daughter Sheri at Fleet Mortgage as a team leader and was a trusted wealth of knowledge to all the staff. She retired from MBNA/Bank of America where her employee file was filled with recognition from her customers for exemplary service and from her superiors for extraordinary accomplishments.

Surviving Irene are her children. Son Larry D. Peterson, his wife Susan, and their children Kelvin & Donasie; Daughter Lori D. Colford, her husband Dale, and their daughters Crystal Blythe & Sheri (plus Sheri’s three children Troy, Trinity Irene, Victoria) and Lori’s sons Stephen & Gavin; Daughter Sheri B. Rowe, her husband Marty, Sheri's sons Brody & Tanner and Marty's son Zac. Irene is also survived by her brothers Herbert Beadnell III & wife Sharon, Charles Beadnell, Russell Beadnell and her sisters Lorraine Pelletier & husband Mike, Roberta Nichols, Marcia Thibodeau & husband Bill, as well as her many adored nieces and nephews. Irene is predeceased by her parents, her husband in 2016, her sister Dari Bourdase in 2021 and her nephew Robert Long in 2022.

Special thanks to Michelle Thomas with Seniors Plus Elder Independence of Maine and to Irene's devoted & decades-long friend, Jeannie McLeod, who tirelessly aided Lori in Irene’s at-home care.

Friends and family are invited to a memorial service on Tuesday August 23, 2022 at 10:30am at Imago Dei Anglican Church (sharing space in First Baptist Church’s building) 56 Center Street Bangor, followed by the interment at 2:00pm at Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery 163 Mt Vernon Road (section B) Augusta.