Irene was born in Brewster, Oregon. She attended school in Portland, later graduating from Tigard, Oregon where her parents owned a farm. Later she married Armand (Lou) Bellon where they resided in Vallejo. She worked as a bank teller, then as a bookkeeper while being a mother. Before Armand retired from Mare Island Naval Shipyard, they started an antique shop in Benicia and eventually moved to Sonora.

Irene always loved telling jokes, playing jokes on people and hearing jokes, especially if they were a little dirty. She loved painting sceneries of the places they would camp, fish and do rock hounding. She learned to do Brazilian embroidery and later taught classes in Sonora. She always enjoyed meeting new people while making new friends. Irene loved the outdoors, camping, fishing, crabbing, clam digging and hunting. She enjoyed doing different types of crafts. She was known for loving life to the fullest.

Irene also was a member of the Tuolumne County antique club. When they moved to Modesto, she became a member of the Modesto Red Hat Movers and Shakers, as well as belonging to the Newcomers and bridge clubs.

She was the best mother to David (Karen), Paul (Carolyne), Joe (Chris), and Denise (Mike), a wonderful Mimi to her 10 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and many great-great grandchildren. Irene was preceded in death by her husband Lou and eldest son David.

A memorial will be held at noon on January 14, 2023 at the Riverbank Community Center, 3600 Santa Fe, Riverbank, CA 95367.

The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader

The Riverbank (Calif.) News

Jan. 11, 2023