PITTSFIELD – Irene Lila Brewer Sweet, 81, passed away Aug. 30, 2006, at a Bangor hospital after a short illness. The only child of Scott Brewer and Clara Belmain Brewer, she was born Nov. 10, 1924, in Presque Isle and spent much of her childhood in Burtts Corner, New Brunswick. She graduated from North Berwick Academy in 1944 and Bernards’ School of Cosmotology, Boston. After World War II, she met and married Dana W. Sweet, an air force veteran, Nov. 30, 1947. For many years she operated beauty shops in Pittsfield and then in Rockland, while her husband taught English in the local high schools. After Dana’s death, Irene returned to Pittsfield to live in West Branch Terrace where she was welcomed back by family and friends. She will be greatly missed by all the animals, loons, wild birds, squirrels and “Dr. Phil,” the woodchuck she befriended while living there. Irene was in many ways a prototypical Yankee. She had a dry humor and was gentle, modest, kind and self-sufficient. Though a homebody, she had a deep love of nature and adventure. She would have liked to have been a pilot, and was fascinated with flying, even hopping rides with local pilots. She also loved the sea and sailing stories. She read all of C.S. Foster’s Hornblower saga and avidly watched the recent film versions. She is survived by two daughters, Kathy Dana Waugh and Linda Irene Thornton; four grandchildren, Amy Chazin, Jesse Chazin, Dylan Thornton and Kaili Patrakis; three great-grandchildren, Ezra Chazin-Mills, Kalina Chazin-Knox and Niko Patrakis. A graveside ceremony will be held 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5, at Achorn Cemetery, Old County Road, Rockland; friends are welcome. There will be a gathering at the Samoset, Rockland after the service. Arrangements are entrusted to D. H. Shorey Funeral Chapel, Pittsfield.
IRENE LILA BREWER SWEET
