Irene M. Walsh of Hermitage died Sunday, November 11, 2018 in Saint John XXIII Home, Hermitage.  She was 96.

Mrs. Walsh was born April 28, 1922, in Masury, OH, a daughter of Andrew and Anna (Condrick) Hromyak.  She was a lifelong resident of the Shenango Valley and member of the former Church of the Sacred Heart, Sharon.  Irene was a 1940 graduate of Brookfield High School and received her registered nurse license in 1942 from the former Christian H. Buhl Hospital School of Nursing, Sharon.  She worked as a private duty nurse while raising her family.  In 1974, she began working at Saint John XXIII Home from which she retired in 1996 as its Director of Nursing.  She enjoyed her career as a nurse helping and caring for her patients and was grateful that she did work that comforted others.

Irene met her husband, John D. Walsh at a dance at the Buhl Farm Casino in 1938.  They married on November 17, 1942, at Saint Mary's Church in Nashville, TN and enjoyed 33 years of marriage until his death on April 16, 1976.

Irene most enjoyed spending time with family and friends.  She taught her children that family and friends were the greatest treasure anyone could have in life.   She is survived by her daughter, Carol Stott and her husband Alan, of Arnold, MD; two sons, Jack Walsh and his wife Diane, of Wexford, PA; and Jim Walsh and his wife Laura, of Woodbine, MD.  She is also survived by 10 grandchildren and their spouses, Maryann (Michael) Collins, Kathy (MarcBirnbaum) Stott, Nicole Masian, Michael Masian, Cara (Shane) Kyle, Rick Masian, Amy Stott, Greg (Jessica Pierce) Walsh, Anna Walsh and Emily Walsh; and six great grandchildren, April, Clara, Jake, Audrey, Caitlyn and Andrew.

In addition to her husband Irene was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Connie L. Masian and  her husband, Richard; five sisters, Margaret Platteborze, Emma Hromyak, Vera Simco, Olga Jones and Catherine Eubanks; two brothers, George Hromyak and Andrew Hromyak; and her dear nieces and nephews and cherished friends.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Saint John XXIII Home and Sharon Regional Hospice for the care they provided to Irene.

Irene requested no flowers. To honor her life, memorial contributions may be made to either The Benedictine Sisters of Erie at Mount Saint Benedict, 6101 East Lake Road, Erie, PA  16511; or Saint John XXIII Home, 2250 Shenango Valley Freeway, Hermitage, PA  16148.

Calling hours will be 4 to 7 p.m. Friday (11/16/2018) in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 East State St., Sharon.

Mass of Christian burial will be noon Saturday (11/17/2018) in the Roncalli Center of Saint John XXIII Home, Hermitage, with Rev. Matthew Ruyechan, as celebrant.

Interment: St. Mary's Cemetery, Hermitage.