Irene (Barry) Nugent

        Irene Theresa Barry Nugent was born on December 20, 1930, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Barry in Jersey City, New Jersey. She was one of five children. Irene passed away peacefully on Saturday morning, August 3, 2024 in Southminster Hospice House in Charlotte. She was 93 years old.

       Irene began work straight out of high school at Merchants Fire Assurance Company. Times were tough back then, the depression, World War II, everyone was expected to do their part. But that’s where she met the love of her life Ed Nugent, our Dad. They married on August 1, 1953. They would have celebrated 71 years of marriage this month! Mom & Dad had three babies in their first three years of marriage. So Mom had a very busy home life. Three years later, another daughter arrived and three years after that another daughter, baby #5 came along.

      Our father was always striving for promotions and better opportunities for our family which involved many moves between New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, back to New York and finally Charlotte, North Carolina. Irene, always by his side, following wherever the jobs lead, finally wanted to branch out with a job of her own, outside of homemaker. There was no limit to what she would try. Our mom worked selling Avon, became a Welcome Wagon representative for new neighbors, worked in the Credit department of Sears & Roebuck, trained to become a bank teller for Springfield Institution for Savings Bank and later was promoted to Head Teller, worked in Customer Service at Pelton and Crane and lastly, Sales Support, bookkeeper, and then Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of Siemens Health and Dental in Charlotte.

        Irene loved sports and exercise. It most likely began in grammar school when she chose to play on the girls’ basketball team. In the 1950s, after having 3 kids, 3 years in a row, she became a huge fan of Jack LaLanne! This new exercise program eventually led to Mom joining a bowling league and later in Upstate New York and Charlotte became an avid golfer. She even had a hole in one!

       The number 5 was her lucky number because of her five children, Kathleen, Ed Jr, Sue, Irene and Dorothy. And the blessings continued with the birth of 10 grandchildren: Kerry, Megan, Colleen, Daniel, Michael, Nikki, Sean, Erin and Kelly and Michael. In 2014, Mom became a Great grandmother, the next generation began with the births of Emery, Ava, Gavin, Ellie, and most recently Emilia, born July 24, 2024.

       Irene’s grandson, Michael gave her a pillow that said: Family, Faith and Football on it. She loved it! It sat prominently on the couch. We all know the shrine of pictures of hubby, Ed, their 5 kids and the grandkids that graced her walls. Her faith was always strong but her participation in the church grew when she and our Dad became members of St Gabriel Church. Mom became a Eucharistic Minister, Sunday Collections counter, laundry assistant for altar cloths and accompanied Ed numerous times when he volunteered for Adoration at 3AM, 4AM and 7AM weekly!

       If you knew Irene you knew she was a HUGE Panthers fan. Our parents would not accept phone calls if the Panthers were playing. Our Dad would read the morning sports page to my Mom daily, so they could have all the “inside scoop” before the BIG game on Sunday. Mom cheered, had her special game shirt on, and had her snacks ready before each game, even after our Dad passed away.

       Sometimes if the Panthers were playing a BIG game she’d go down to Happy Hour at the ClubHouse to watch the game but she could only stay until halftime because everyone was talking too much and not paying enough attention to the plays.

        The last “F” that didn’t make the pillow was Friends. She loved Charlotte!! Mom enjoyed the friends she made in her 40+ years living here. Brookdale became her second home after Ed died. Irene found friendships she treasured. The Thursday Morning =Communion Service, the van service to St Gabe’s for Sunday mass, the Stitch & Chat group, the putting green and numerous activities the Activity Director coordinated and more, all made Mom’s 6 years at the Carriage Club comfortable, fun and home. So many employees were looking out for Irene. It is hard to say who her favorite was because there were so many! It definitely made it easier for her family who were spread out all over the country.

        This is a tough chapter for all of us who get there. But the beauty of it is you all “get it”, support each other and love each other through it all. I’m quite sure Mom is back to her active life in heaven, joined by our Dad and the many who have gone before them.

Irene Nugent will surely be missed by all who knew and loved her, especially Dorothy Nugent & family, Irene Perkins & family, Sue & Big Williams & family, Ed Nugent Jr, and Kathleen & Paul Fitzgerald & family.

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