Irene M. Coville
April 10, 2025

Irene M. Coville, age 83, of Oneida KY, formerly of Burlington, MA., passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, March 27th.
Born in Boston, MA on December 6, 1941, she was one of two daughters of the late Joseph and Beatrice (LeBlanc) Blanchet. Irene was raised in the Cambridge area until her parents bought their house in Burlington in 1955. She graduated from Burlington High School as a member of the Class of 1960. With a large extended family, Irene spent a lot of time with her cousins, many of which she remained close to throughout her life. An independent and adventurous person, she started using public transportation at a young age and went on to travel throughout the country by bus or car alone or accompanied by her sister or a friend and later, her children.
In her free time, Irene enjoyed reading, painting, and later in life, adult coloring books. She enjoyed thrifting and yard sales and acquired numerous treasures throughout the years. Irene particularly loved depression glass and other colored glass pieces. She displayed some of the pieces in the front windows of the family home that she shared with her sister, the late, Lorraine Blanchet, and would change the color scheme monthly. Even before they both retired, Irene and Lorraine had a quiet routine. They would dine out several times a week and enjoyed playing bingo at the Burlington Council on Aging. Boston sports played a huge role in Irene's life, and she had fond memories from her childhood of listening to Red Sox games with her dad on the radio. Above all else though, Irene loved her family. Spending time with them was her favorite activity. Her deep-rooted love for her children and grandchildren helped create lasting and loving memories with each of them.
Surviving Irene are her children, Laura Melanson and her husband Mark of Nashua, NH, John Anthony & his wife Sheri of Berlin, NH, and Julianne Tompkins of Oneida, KY.; Her grandchildren, (affectionately known as "Memere's Munchkins") Shayla Melanson and Ashlee Melanson of Nashua NH, Brenden Anthony, Dustin Anthony, Amanda Powers and her husband Dallas, and Charlotte Anthony all of Berlin, NH, and Scott Tompkins and his wife, Christa of Flowery Branch, GA., and her great granddaughter, Bailey Powers.
A visiting hour will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St. Burlington, MA on Friday, April 25th from 11:30 am until 12:30 pm. A service at the funeral home will begin at 12:30 pm and services will conclude with an interment at Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington.
Born in Boston, MA on December 6, 1941, she was one of two daughters of the late Joseph and Beatrice (LeBlanc) Blanchet. Irene was raised in the Cambridge area until her parents bought their house in Burlington in 1955. She graduated from Burlington High School as a member of the Class of 1960. With a large extended family, Irene spent a lot of time with her cousins, many of which she remained close to throughout her life. An independent and adventurous person, she started using public transportation at a young age and went on to travel throughout the country by bus or car alone or accompanied by her sister or a friend and later, her children.
In her free time, Irene enjoyed reading, painting, and later in life, adult coloring books. She enjoyed thrifting and yard sales and acquired numerous treasures throughout the years. Irene particularly loved depression glass and other colored glass pieces. She displayed some of the pieces in the front windows of the family home that she shared with her sister, the late, Lorraine Blanchet, and would change the color scheme monthly. Even before they both retired, Irene and Lorraine had a quiet routine. They would dine out several times a week and enjoyed playing bingo at the Burlington Council on Aging. Boston sports played a huge role in Irene's life, and she had fond memories from her childhood of listening to Red Sox games with her dad on the radio. Above all else though, Irene loved her family. Spending time with them was her favorite activity. Her deep-rooted love for her children and grandchildren helped create lasting and loving memories with each of them.
Surviving Irene are her children, Laura Melanson and her husband Mark of Nashua, NH, John Anthony & his wife Sheri of Berlin, NH, and Julianne Tompkins of Oneida, KY.; Her grandchildren, (affectionately known as "Memere's Munchkins") Shayla Melanson and Ashlee Melanson of Nashua NH, Brenden Anthony, Dustin Anthony, Amanda Powers and her husband Dallas, and Charlotte Anthony all of Berlin, NH, and Scott Tompkins and his wife, Christa of Flowery Branch, GA., and her great granddaughter, Bailey Powers.
A visiting hour will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St. Burlington, MA on Friday, April 25th from 11:30 am until 12:30 pm. A service at the funeral home will begin at 12:30 pm and services will conclude with an interment at Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington.
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