Irene S. Austin, 84
PORTLAND - Irene S. Austin, 84, died Sunday January 31, 2009. Irene was born in Yarmouth, Maine on January 12, 1925, the eldest child of Helen Winslow Colesworthy and Clifford L. Thurston. She graduated from North Yarmouth Academy in 1943. Irene worked for Western Union Telegraph Company until May of 1945, when she enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served in San Diego, California during World War II. After her discharge from the military, Irene attended the Modern School of Fashion and Design in Boston, Massachusetts, where she studied fashion design while doing runway shows for the Hart Modeling Agency. From 1949 to 1980, Irene worked for Motor Insurance Corporation, a division of General Motors Corporation, starting as a filing clerk and retiring as Secretary to the Branch Manager. A lyric coloratura soprano, Irene began to study voice in San Diego, California, while in the Marine Corps. Upon discharge she continued her studies at the New England Conservatory of Music and locally with Evelyn Fogg Olcott and Evelyn Badger Carroll. Irene performed for many years with the American Festival Chorus and was well known throughout the state of Maine, having performed regularly with the Augusta Trio at the Blaine House and in many towns and cities throughout the state. She also gave Sunday afternoon recitals at AMHI and the Togus Veterans Hospital. She was an original member of the Portland Symphony Chorus and the Portland Community Chorus. Irene was also past president of the Portland MacDowell Club and the Marston-Kotzschmar Club, and a performing member of the Portland Rossini Club. She served as President of the Maine Federation of Music Clubs from 1981 to 1985, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Nation Federation of Music Clubs and served as their Vice President in charge of the Northeast Region from 1995 to 1999. Irene loved art of all kinds. She was an avid photographer and taught an art therapy class for the Mercy Hospital Substance Abuse Recovery Center for almost 5 years in the early 1990's. She was an active docent at the Portland Museum of Fine Art, giving tours of the museum and visiting schools and organizations throughout the state to talk about the museum's collection. Also a lover of the written word, Irene had a large book collection and was a writer herself. In high school, her very first poem won a contest through Atlantic Monthly Magazine, and in 1976 she won the Clearing House Column's Bicentennial poetry writing contest for a poem entitled Look Ye to America. A member of the First Lutheran Church in Portland for many years, Irene served on the Church Council and was a member of their choir. In most recent years she attended the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Portland, where she had made many friends. Irene was predeceased by her husband, Roland H. Austin and by her brothers, Earl W. Thurston and C. Leon Thurston. She is survived by her cousins Geneva Johnson Ernest "Sonny" Winslow, and Carl Winslow; son David Harmon and his wife Amanda; step-daughter Marilyn Austin and her son Zachary; adopted daughter Malalai Popal; granddaughter Angelica Harmon; sister-in-law Alfreda Thurston; four nieces and two nephews. Visiting hours will be Friday February 6, 2009 from 2-4 and 6-8 at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home 199 Woodford St. Portlan. Funeral services will be 10a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Interment with military honors will be at Brooklawn Memorial Park Portland.To honor Irene's love of animals and especially her beloved dog Theodora Bear and cat Macaroni, Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to: The Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, P.O. Box 336, Westbrook, Maine 04098 or at their website: http://www.arlgp.org/
Portland Press Herald: 05 Feb 2009
PORTLAND - Irene S. Austin, 84, died Sunday January 31, 2009. Irene was born in Yarmouth, Maine on January 12, 1925, the eldest child of Helen Winslow Colesworthy and Clifford L. Thurston. She graduated from North Yarmouth Academy in 1943. Irene worked for Western Union Telegraph Company until May of 1945, when she enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served in San Diego, California during World War II. After her discharge from the military, Irene attended the Modern School of Fashion and Design in Boston, Massachusetts, where she studied fashion design while doing runway shows for the Hart Modeling Agency. From 1949 to 1980, Irene worked for Motor Insurance Corporation, a division of General Motors Corporation, starting as a filing clerk and retiring as Secretary to the Branch Manager. A lyric coloratura soprano, Irene began to study voice in San Diego, California, while in the Marine Corps. Upon discharge she continued her studies at the New England Conservatory of Music and locally with Evelyn Fogg Olcott and Evelyn Badger Carroll. Irene performed for many years with the American Festival Chorus and was well known throughout the state of Maine, having performed regularly with the Augusta Trio at the Blaine House and in many towns and cities throughout the state. She also gave Sunday afternoon recitals at AMHI and the Togus Veterans Hospital. She was an original member of the Portland Symphony Chorus and the Portland Community Chorus. Irene was also past president of the Portland MacDowell Club and the Marston-Kotzschmar Club, and a performing member of the Portland Rossini Club. She served as President of the Maine Federation of Music Clubs from 1981 to 1985, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Nation Federation of Music Clubs and served as their Vice President in charge of the Northeast Region from 1995 to 1999. Irene loved art of all kinds. She was an avid photographer and taught an art therapy class for the Mercy Hospital Substance Abuse Recovery Center for almost 5 years in the early 1990's. She was an active docent at the Portland Museum of Fine Art, giving tours of the museum and visiting schools and organizations throughout the state to talk about the museum's collection. Also a lover of the written word, Irene had a large book collection and was a writer herself. In high school, her very first poem won a contest through Atlantic Monthly Magazine, and in 1976 she won the Clearing House Column's Bicentennial poetry writing contest for a poem entitled Look Ye to America. A member of the First Lutheran Church in Portland for many years, Irene served on the Church Council and was a member of their choir. In most recent years she attended the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Portland, where she had made many friends. Irene was predeceased by her husband, Roland H. Austin and by her brothers, Earl W. Thurston and C. Leon Thurston. She is survived by her cousins Geneva Johnson Ernest "Sonny" Winslow, and Carl Winslow; son David Harmon and his wife Amanda; step-daughter Marilyn Austin and her son Zachary; adopted daughter Malalai Popal; granddaughter Angelica Harmon; sister-in-law Alfreda Thurston; four nieces and two nephews. Visiting hours will be Friday February 6, 2009 from 2-4 and 6-8 at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home 199 Woodford St. Portlan. Funeral services will be 10a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Interment with military honors will be at Brooklawn Memorial Park Portland.To honor Irene's love of animals and especially her beloved dog Theodora Bear and cat Macaroni, Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to: The Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, P.O. Box 336, Westbrook, Maine 04098 or at their website: http://www.arlgp.org/
Portland Press Herald: 05 Feb 2009
Irene S. Austin, 84
PORTLAND - Irene S. Austin, 84, died Sunday January 31, 2009. Irene was born in Yarmouth, Maine on January 12, 1925, the eldest child of Helen Winslow Colesworthy and Clifford L. Thurston. She graduated from North Yarmouth Academy in 1943. Irene worked for Western Union Telegraph Company until May of 1945, when she enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served in San Diego, California during World War II. After her discharge from the military, Irene attended the Modern School of Fashion and Design in Boston, Massachusetts, where she studied fashion design while doing runway shows for the Hart Modeling Agency. From 1949 to 1980, Irene worked for Motor Insurance Corporation, a division of General Motors Corporation, starting as a filing clerk and retiring as Secretary to the Branch Manager. A lyric coloratura soprano, Irene began to study voice in San Diego, California, while in the Marine Corps. Upon discharge she continued her studies at the New England Conservatory of Music and locally with Evelyn Fogg Olcott and Evelyn Badger Carroll. Irene performed for many years with the American Festival Chorus and was well known throughout the state of Maine, having performed regularly with the Augusta Trio at the Blaine House and in many towns and cities throughout the state. She also gave Sunday afternoon recitals at AMHI and the Togus Veterans Hospital. She was an original member of the Portland Symphony Chorus and the Portland Community Chorus. Irene was also past president of the Portland MacDowell Club and the Marston-Kotzschmar Club, and a performing member of the Portland Rossini Club. She served as President of the Maine Federation of Music Clubs from 1981 to 1985, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Nation Federation of Music Clubs and served as their Vice President in charge of the Northeast Region from 1995 to 1999. Irene loved art of all kinds. She was an avid photographer and taught an art therapy class for the Mercy Hospital Substance Abuse Recovery Center for almost 5 years in the early 1990's. She was an active docent at the Portland Museum of Fine Art, giving tours of the museum and visiting schools and organizations throughout the state to talk about the museum's collection. Also a lover of the written word, Irene had a large book collection and was a writer herself. In high school, her very first poem won a contest through Atlantic Monthly Magazine, and in 1976 she won the Clearing House Column's Bicentennial poetry writing contest for a poem entitled Look Ye to America. A member of the First Lutheran Church in Portland for many years, Irene served on the Church Council and was a member of their choir. In most recent years she attended the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Portland, where she had made many friends. Irene was predeceased by her husband, Roland H. Austin and by her brothers, Earl W. Thurston and C. Leon Thurston. She is survived by her cousins Geneva Johnson Ernest "Sonny" Winslow, and Carl Winslow; son David Harmon and his wife Amanda; step-daughter Marilyn Austin and her son Zachary; adopted daughter Malalai Popal; granddaughter Angelica Harmon; sister-in-law Alfreda Thurston; four nieces and two nephews. Visiting hours will be Friday February 6, 2009 from 2-4 and 6-8 at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home 199 Woodford St. Portlan. Funeral services will be 10a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Interment with military honors will be at Brooklawn Memorial Park Portland.To honor Irene's love of animals and especially her beloved dog Theodora Bear and cat Macaroni, Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to: The Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, P.O. Box 336, Westbrook, Maine 04098 or at their website: http://www.arlgp.org/
Portland Press Herald: 05 Feb 2009
PORTLAND - Irene S. Austin, 84, died Sunday January 31, 2009. Irene was born in Yarmouth, Maine on January 12, 1925, the eldest child of Helen Winslow Colesworthy and Clifford L. Thurston. She graduated from North Yarmouth Academy in 1943. Irene worked for Western Union Telegraph Company until May of 1945, when she enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served in San Diego, California during World War II. After her discharge from the military, Irene attended the Modern School of Fashion and Design in Boston, Massachusetts, where she studied fashion design while doing runway shows for the Hart Modeling Agency. From 1949 to 1980, Irene worked for Motor Insurance Corporation, a division of General Motors Corporation, starting as a filing clerk and retiring as Secretary to the Branch Manager. A lyric coloratura soprano, Irene began to study voice in San Diego, California, while in the Marine Corps. Upon discharge she continued her studies at the New England Conservatory of Music and locally with Evelyn Fogg Olcott and Evelyn Badger Carroll. Irene performed for many years with the American Festival Chorus and was well known throughout the state of Maine, having performed regularly with the Augusta Trio at the Blaine House and in many towns and cities throughout the state. She also gave Sunday afternoon recitals at AMHI and the Togus Veterans Hospital. She was an original member of the Portland Symphony Chorus and the Portland Community Chorus. Irene was also past president of the Portland MacDowell Club and the Marston-Kotzschmar Club, and a performing member of the Portland Rossini Club. She served as President of the Maine Federation of Music Clubs from 1981 to 1985, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Nation Federation of Music Clubs and served as their Vice President in charge of the Northeast Region from 1995 to 1999. Irene loved art of all kinds. She was an avid photographer and taught an art therapy class for the Mercy Hospital Substance Abuse Recovery Center for almost 5 years in the early 1990's. She was an active docent at the Portland Museum of Fine Art, giving tours of the museum and visiting schools and organizations throughout the state to talk about the museum's collection. Also a lover of the written word, Irene had a large book collection and was a writer herself. In high school, her very first poem won a contest through Atlantic Monthly Magazine, and in 1976 she won the Clearing House Column's Bicentennial poetry writing contest for a poem entitled Look Ye to America. A member of the First Lutheran Church in Portland for many years, Irene served on the Church Council and was a member of their choir. In most recent years she attended the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Portland, where she had made many friends. Irene was predeceased by her husband, Roland H. Austin and by her brothers, Earl W. Thurston and C. Leon Thurston. She is survived by her cousins Geneva Johnson Ernest "Sonny" Winslow, and Carl Winslow; son David Harmon and his wife Amanda; step-daughter Marilyn Austin and her son Zachary; adopted daughter Malalai Popal; granddaughter Angelica Harmon; sister-in-law Alfreda Thurston; four nieces and two nephews. Visiting hours will be Friday February 6, 2009 from 2-4 and 6-8 at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home 199 Woodford St. Portlan. Funeral services will be 10a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Interment with military honors will be at Brooklawn Memorial Park Portland.To honor Irene's love of animals and especially her beloved dog Theodora Bear and cat Macaroni, Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to: The Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, P.O. Box 336, Westbrook, Maine 04098 or at their website: http://www.arlgp.org/
Portland Press Herald: 05 Feb 2009
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