Irene Davis

Peacefully at home, in the cherished embrace of her adoring husband, Tom, and children, Irene Marie Quinn Davis was sent to the Lord on January 12, 2007 to join her beloved son, Tommy, and her dear sisters, Kathleen Willis and Gemma Collins, in joyous life hereafter. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland on May 22, 1926 and married for more than 60 years to the love of her life, Thomas E. Davis, this brave, wee colleen left home to work in London during the Great War where she met a handsome, young American sailor, who swept her away. Casting off from the shores of England to cross the Atlantic Ocean alone as a young war bride and already with child, Irene arrived in Albany to make a home for her new family and await her husband's triumphant homecoming. They settled in North Albany and then Loudonville to raise their 7 children and participate in their religious community. When the children were grown, Irene and Tom enjoyed a 12-year vacation in Hudson, Florida before returning to the Albany area.

A spotless homemaker, this little Irish scrub lady, as her husband fondly called her, managed with thrift, grace, resilience, and prayers to feed and handsomely clothe her clan, who wanted for nothing. In later years, as Alzheimer's disease ravaged her body and stole her memories, she struggled bravely to stay connected to her family, never losing her gentle smile and sweet nature. Irene was always quick to laugh and while she grieved her great losses and often worried about making ends meet, she had remarkable strength because of her deep faith. She prayed daily for her family and friends, reading from the frayed and worn pages of God's words, taking comfort in His message to her. Irene lived by the principle that the best way to face sadness or disappointment is to get up, get moving, and do something useful for your family and others. In her last days, with an amazing return of clarity of mind, Irene sang Irish songs with all her children present, offered profound perspectives on living life well, shared touching endearments, and prayed, with folded hands, for God's blessings on her family. The world was made a better place by her time here and she is now among the blessed in heaven, at last with Jesus, Mary, and St. Joseph, whom she could often be heard quietly calling out to as she faced the toils of her earthly life.

Irene leaves her heart-broken husband, Tom, and 6 children. She returns to her oldest son, Tommy, Jr., whom she lost in 1969, when he was 22. Her remaining children grieve her passing: Sheila Morroni (John) of Voorheesville, Maureen Palmiotto (Frank) of Rotterdam, Timothy Davis (Teresita) of Guilderland, Sean Davis (Kim) of Port Ritchie, Florida, Kelly Hartmann (John) of Latham, and Shannon Gillson (Douglas) of Guilderland. Irene was also blessed by her 20 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Calling hours will be on Monday from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Newcomer-Cannon Family Funeral Home, 343 New Karner Rd. Colonie (Route 155-south of Central Ave). A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday at St. Madeleine Sophie Church, 3500 Carmen Road (Route 146) in Guilderland. Interment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Rensselaer. Memorial donations may be made to the Community Hospice of Albany, 445 New Karner Rd., Albany 12205 and the Alzheimer's Association of Northeastern New York, 85 Watervliet Ave., Albany 12206 in memory of Irene M. Davis. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Newcomerfamily.com.