Irene Burke Smith Obituary

Irene V. Burke Smith, 101, longtime resident of Wilton, NH, died at the Community Hospice House, Merrimack, NH, on Monday, June 2, 2025, she was surrounded by her loving her family.

She was born on December 30, 1923, in Woonsocket, RI, a daughter of the late Aime and Nelida (Lamarque) Groslouis.

Irene was raised and educated in Woonsocket, RI, until 1934, when she and her family would move to Milford. Her only brother, Albert Groslouis, brought the family to the area to work at the Abbot Worsted Mills.

She graduated from Milford High School, Class of 1941 and went on to attend Nashua Business College. Upon graduation, she went to work at the Abbott Mills in the office. She met and married James R. Burke, and together made their home in Wilton, on Island Street with their four daughters for many years.

In 1955, she went to hairdressing school in Manchester, NH. She ran her own in-home beauty parlor until 1986.

Following the death of James, in 1991, she would begin to winter in Florida. In 1996, she married, Rupert “Spike” Smith. Together they shared ten years of marriage before his passing in 2006. Irene would continue to live in her beloved Clearwater Beach, FL, for many years until her health and being away from family brought her back home to Wilton. She enjoyed volunteering at her local hospital in Clearwater, the beach, her early morning walks, crossword puzzles, Suduko, reading the paper and her family, especially her great-grandchildren.

Survivors include her four daughters and sons-in-laws, Christine and (Timothy) McEntee of Wilton, NH, Jane and (Wesley) DeGroot of Wallingford, CT, Nancy and (Steven) Brown of Lyndeborough, NH, Patricia Burke of Jaffrey, NH, two stepdaughters, Paula Moran and Roberta Kamen, eight grandchildren, Jackie Pellerin, Rachel and Beth DeGroot, Jerimiah (Caitlyn) Brown, Jaymie (Jeremy) Dunlap, Devin (Hannah) McEntee, Austin McEntee, Kate (Scott) Dowling and eleven great-grandchildren.

SERVICES: In accordance with her wishes there will be no calling hours. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on, Saturday, June 7, 2025, at 11:30 AM in the St. Patrick’s Church, 34 Amherst Street, Milford, NH. Burial will follow in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Wilton, NH. All are invited to meet directly at church.

Arrangements are in the care of her grandson, Devin B. McEntee and the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, NH. To share a memory or offer a condolence please visit www.smith-heald.com for more information