Obituary: Margery L. Irish

February 19, 1929 - February 5, 2021

Margery Irish. Courtesy photo.

Margery L. Irish, 91 of Waterbury Center, passed away in Winston Salem, N.C., with loved ones by her side on February 5, 2021. Despite the loss of her husband, Maxfield R. Irish, in November 2016, Margery continued to live every day to the fullest after her move to North Carolina with her youngest daughter, Terry Irish, and her granddaughter, Meaghan Goughnour and her family.

Margery was born and grew up on Maple Street in Waterbury Center Vermont on a farm with her parents, Lois and Harold Towne, and her siblings Gerald, Justin, Rodney and Kathleen.

She grew up doing sewing, knitting, cooking, and working on the farm with her siblings and parents. Margery also worked for years as a telephone operator out of Montpelier, Vt.

Maxi and Marge married and purchased the old Ryle’s Market with Walter Deal, at which time the IDEAL Market was founded. (“I” for Irish and “Deal” for Walter Deal) Maxi and Margery became the proprietors, thereby remaining as the IDEAL Market for 52 years of enjoyable business with the community and 72 years of marriage and family.

Margery and Maxi enjoyed operating the market as independent grocers, the daily life of the community, and longtime friends. Margery cherished the community with the store business, with Maxi at the Ideal Market, her family, and was so thankful for the folks who continued to conduct business with her and Maxi over the years on a regular basis and all of their dear friends.

One of the most cherished memories for Margery and Maxi was the preparation of McKenzie hot dogs and lollipops as they fixed them for all the kids in town daily. The kids would arrive to get those hot dogs and lollipops, and the joy on the children’s faces was all Margery and Maxi needed. They would order extra hot dogs, just to make sure they had enough to hand out to all that arrived.

Margery and Maxi enjoyed watching basketball together with their favorite team, the Celtics. They enjoyed spending time with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren as they played sports and other school activities, and teaching the family her well-learned skills of cooking, sewing, knitting.

Margery moved to North Carolina in September 2017, after her husband’s passing in 2016, and was cared for by her youngest granddaughter, Meaghan, and her daughter, Terry Irish, until her passing.

Margery is loved and remembered by her daughter, Donna L. Breen and her husband Kevin Breen of Waterbury; her daughter Terry L. Irish of Winston-Salem, N.C.; three wonderful grandchildren and their families: Craig Breen and his wife Sandra, of Boston, Mass.; Eric Breen and his wife Mickel Yust of Corpus Christi, Texas; Meaghan Goughnour and her husband Nick Goughnour of North Carolina; four wonderful great-grandchildren: Briac, Lushi and Nahla Breen, and Kaleigh Goughnour.

The family would like to thank all of the dear neighbors, friends, and the community for the cherished friendships and support over the years.

In honor of Margery’s wishes, a celebration of her life will be announced at a later date. 

Arrangements by Perkins-Parker Funeral Home.