HUDSON FALLS – Irene La Cross, 85, passed peacefully into the Lord’s arms, surrounded by her loving family, on Tuesday, August 30, 2016 at Haynes House of Hope in Granville.
She was born on September 29, 1930, in Hudson Falls,to Francis and Laura (Monette) Clough.
Irene graduated from Hudson Falls High School in 1948 and worked for a while at Griffin’s Lumber Co. in Hudson Falls.
In 1951, she married Robert La Cross, also of Hudson Falls. Robert was in college in Trenton, New Jersey, at the time and the couple lived there through 1952. In Trenton, their first child, Michael, was born. The couple were married for 65 years. After college, they moved to Staten Island, where their second child, Diane, was born. Robert worked in the accounting field. After four years in New York City, they returned home to Hudson Falls, to raise their two children.
In 1968 the family moved to Southern California. Irene and Robert lived there for 30 years, returning to Hudson Falls again in 1998.
During her long life, Irene was busied herself raising two children and babysitting her three grandchildren. She had many interests, including making quilts for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Perhaps family and friends most remember her for the fact that she and Robert moved many times in their married life, owning (and usually renovating) at least 17 homes in their years together.
The kitchen was always her home base, and she excelled as a cook and dessert maker, known best for her fudge at Christmas. Irene always had a vegetable garden in the summer, from which she generously gifted family, friends and neighbors with produce, especially tomatoes. She also loved doing the cross-word puzzles and Sudoku in the daily newspaper.
Irene’s parents passed away in the 1950’s and 60’s; her younger sister Katherine in 2009.
She is survived by her devoted husband, Robert La Cross of Hudson Falls; her son, Michael of Fort Ann; her daughter, Diane Jewell and her husband, Paul of Littlerock, California; three grandchildren, Lisa Jewell Mondoux and her husband, Richard of Rosamond, California, Sean Jewell and wife, Sara of Federal Way, Washington, and Jessica Jewell and her companion, Brandon Greene of San Diego, California; two great-grandchildren, Ethan and Ryan Mondoux of Rosamond, California; her brother, James Clough of Maryville, Tennessee; and many nieces, nephews and their families.
Friends may call on Friday from 4 to 6 PM at the Carleton Funeral Home, Inc., 68 Main Street in Hudson Falls.
Funeral Services will be conducted at 11 AM on Saturday at St. Mary’s/St. Paul’s Church, on the park, in Hudson Falls.
Donations in Irene’s name may be made to Haynes House of Hope, 7187 Route 149, Granville, NY 12832.
The family wishes to thank the staff and volunteers at Haynes House of Hope in Granville for the extraordinary care and compassion given to Irene and her family.