Beloved cook and mom showed quiet determination through a century
The feisty old broad reluctantly gave up on her quest to live forever. At the ripe old age of 102, Irene Hartwell finally succumbed to the relentless deterioration of her body and passed away on the morning of November 23. As befits someone of that advanced age, Irene lived a life containing both eras of bliss and ones of difficulty. Through it all she displayed a quiet determination and resilience in the face of every obstacle that confronted her. Irene was strong-willed and sometimes cantankerous, but she could always be counted upon to provide support and comfort to her children, as evidenced by her willingness over the years to welcome all of them back to the family home after they experienced difficulties in their lives. Irene was born on September 9, 1922, in Providence, R.I., to Walter and Augusta Field. She grew up in working-class Providence neighborhoods and attended Catholic schools through high school. She was working on the production line at Frisbie Pies when an NEK transplant delivery driver, Philemon C. Hartwell, noticed her because, as family lore has it, “she had great legs.” Apparently, the attraction was mutual, and they started to see each other. After World War II ended, they married and moved to Vermont. The family lived in various towns early on, including Lyndonville, Websterville and Milton. Along the way, Philemon M., David and Marilyn were born. The lure of the NEK and in particular of the Hartwell stronghold of East Haven led to the purchase of an old farmhouse on five acres in Hartwellville. The house was once the headquarters of a veneer mill whose stone foundation ruins provided the children with their own personal fort. The fort, the large barn with hayloft and accessible cupola, the island in the adjacent Passumpsic River, and the base of East Mountain provided countless opportunities for imagination and adventure. Irene started off as a typical 1950s housewife, but she was also the postmaster for East Haven for two years, was on the school board for a number of terms and served as the hot lunch cook for the East Haven School for years. The meal was cooked at her house and transported by sled to the nearby school. Irene was an excellent cook and baker. Slow-simmered beef stew with dumplings, baked beans with salt pork and maple syrup, and roast leg of lamb were some of her…
Beloved cook and mom showed quiet determination through a century
The feisty old broad reluctantly gave up on her quest to live forever. At the ripe old age of 102, Irene Hartwell finally succumbed to the relentless deterioration of her body and passed away on the morning of November 23. As befits someone of that advanced age, Irene lived a life containing both eras of bliss and ones of difficulty. Through it all she displayed a quiet determination and resilience in the face of every obstacle that confronted her. Irene was strong-willed and sometimes cantankerous, but she could always be counted upon to provide support and comfort to her children, as evidenced by her willingness over the years to welcome all of them back to the family home after they experienced difficulties in their lives. Irene was born on September 9, 1922, in Providence, R.I., to Walter and Augusta Field. She grew up in working-class Providence neighborhoods and attended Catholic schools through high school. She was working on the production line at Frisbie Pies when an NEK transplant delivery driver, Philemon C. Hartwell, noticed her because, as family lore has it, “she had great legs.” Apparently, the attraction was mutual, and they started to see each other. After World War II ended, they married and moved to Vermont. The family lived in various towns early on, including Lyndonville, Websterville and Milton. Along the way, Philemon M., David and Marilyn were born. The lure of the NEK and in particular of the Hartwell stronghold of East Haven led to the purchase of an old farmhouse on five acres in Hartwellville. The house was once the headquarters of a veneer mill whose stone foundation ruins provided the children with their own personal fort. The fort, the large barn with hayloft and accessible cupola, the island in the adjacent Passumpsic River, and the base of East Mountain provided countless opportunities for imagination and adventure. Irene started off as a typical 1950s housewife, but she was also the postmaster for East Haven for two years, was on the school board for a number of terms and served as the hot lunch cook for the East Haven School for years. The meal was cooked at her house and transported by sled to the nearby school. Irene was an excellent cook and baker. Slow-simmered beef stew with dumplings, baked beans with salt pork and maple syrup, and roast leg of lamb were some of her…