Orange, MA – Irene M. Baker Ballou, 92, died at her home, surrounded by her children, on the afternoon of December 16, 2025.
Irene was born in Gardner, Massachusetts on April 20, 1933, the daughter of Clyde Lester Baker and Evelyn Harriet (Mann Baker) Willis. She grew up in South Ashburnham in the house her father built for their family in 1937 and attended Jewel Whitney Elementary School.
After her father’s untimely passing in 1940, her grandparents, Myrtie May (Bliss) Baker and Newton Cressy Baker, moved into the house with Irene and her mom. Irene learned sewing, embroidery, and knitting from her grandmother, who inspired Irene’s lifelong passion for sewing. Irene’s interest in genealogy was spurred by frequent visits by her Uncle Howard, who was writing a book of genealogy, and from visits to the cemeteries with her uncle and grandparents.
In 1944 her family expanded to include step-father Forrest Perley Willis, and two step-sisters, Justine and Jean, who joined them in the house in South Ashburnham.
In 1948, Irene boarded a plane with her mother for what would be the first of many trips to California to visit family and to see where her dad grew up. This trip, which included a visit to Yosemite, along with a childhood trip to Niagara Falls with her father and grandparents, inspired Irene’s lifelong love of travel.
Irene attended the David Hale Fanning Girls Trade School in Worcester where she studied Dressmaking & Design from 1949-1950. She then attended Fitchburg High School, graduating in 1952. Throughout high school, Irene worked in her mother’s antique shop, Blue Spruce Antiques in Templeton, but she spent as much time sewing and dancing as she could.
After graduating high school in 1952, Irene began pursuing her plan to become a seamstress, first, with a job in alterations at Goodnow Pearson Co., in Gardner, and then a job in retail at the Singer Sewing Machine store in Athol, MA.
Irene met Grover “Bud” Roscoe Ballou, Jr., while visiting family in Vermont. They were wed on October 18, 1952, and began an amazing 72 years of married life. Together they raised 4 children, and Irene became a Girl Scout Leader, and served on the Girl Scout Council. The family camped and traveled all over the country. After the kids were grown Bud and Irene continued traveling, taking trips to Nova Scotia, England, France, Switzerland, Italy, Scotland and Ireland.
Irene continued pursuing her career as a seamstress while raising her children. In the early years Irene worked for Joyce’s Bridal in Orange, making wedding gowns and doing alterations from her home on Pleasant Street. She also ran the kitchen at Charlie Plotkin’s, where she was a short order cook and provided lunches for everyone at the Orange Shoe Factory. Later, she worked at B&S Coat Factory where she did independent tailoring work, and infamously ran a sewing needle through her finger. She also worked at Collier-Keyworth as a power stitcher in Gardner.
In the late ’80s and early ’90s Irene worked from home making insulating window quilts for Home Comfort Curtain out of Shutesbury, MA, and then Amherst. She also spent time working with her daughters Luanne Pierson and Lurene Hall at Lu’s Flower and Gift Shop.
Throughout her life, Irene remained a very active member of the Community.
Irene was a proud descendant of Easter Wooledge (Mann), the first girl born in Orange the town was incorporated in 1810, which helped inspire her interest in the town and its history. She joined the Orange Historical Society in 1955, where she was a lifelong member, and she served as the President of the Society in 1976, 1980, and from 1984 until 2020.
She also served as a member of: the Town of Orange Historical Commission, the Save Our Statue Committee, the Peace Statue Committee, the 200th Anniversary Committee, and the Orange Women’s Club where she served as Vice President. In addition, she was a member of the Eastern Star, the Grange, the Sewing Club, the Antique Car Club, and the Central Massachusetts Steam, Gas, and Machinery Club. Irene and Bud Ballou were honored as Citizens of the Month in Orange in 1997 in recognition of their many ongoing contributions to the community.
A long-standing member of the Orange Central Congregation Church, she joined the church in 1956, taught Sunday School for many years, was a member of the Women’s club and Anchor Club, and served on the Kitchen Committee, the Diaconate Committee, and the Mission Committee. Irene could be found cooking, baking, and running meals for church events for decades. She also did cooking and organization for the Loaves and Fishes Community Suppers in Orange.
After her husband Bud retired, they started wintering in New Port Richie, FL. In New Port Richey, Irene was very active in the Orchid Lake Community and was an associate member of the Community Congregational Church, New Port Richey, FL. She was on The Council in Florida for 2.5 – 3 yrs and was in charge of the kitchen for Monday coffee hours, meals, and other special events. In Florida, Irene was also in charge of the Swedish Embroidery Club, and made over 50 quilts continuing working on them until last year.
Irene’s genealogy notebooks were never more than an arms length away, she always had a sewing needle at the ready, her latest Swedish Embroidery on her lap, and she could always tell you where everyone in her family was, what they were doing, and what she thought about it.
There was nothing more important to her than family.
Irene was predeceased by her husband Grover “Bud” Roscoe Ballou, and is survived by her four children, Lucille E. Songer, Grover R. Ballou, Jr., Luanne I. Pierson, Lurene T. Hall, and their families: Daughter Lucille E. Songer, her husband Kenneth, and children: Jocelyn Songer, Brian Olson and their daughter Willow Songer; Evan and Beth Songer and their children Lillian and Owen; Travis and Kristen Songer and their children Nora and Bridgette; Jennifer Songer (deceased); Asa and Dan Wehner and their children, Clara, Leo, Roman, and Esther. Son, Grover R. Ballou, Jr., his wife Leanne and his family: Bryant Green, Kaylon Green and Kaylon’s daughter Alexia, and Miss Molly Ballou. Daughter Luanne I. Pierson, her husband Charles, and family: Charles E. Pierson, III and CaitIla Symonds, her husband Stephen, and daughters Kaylin and Avajean. Daughter Lurene T. Hall, her husband Bryan (deceased), her son Philip (deceased), and her daughter Jillian Bastine, her husband Cory, and their daughter Brooke. She also leaves her stepsister Jean Willis Jessiman.
Additionally, Irene was predeceased by her parents Clyde Baker and Evelyn (Mann) Baker Willis and her stepfather Forrest Willis, and her stepsister Justine Willis Butler.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at 2 p.m. at Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange.
Interment will be held at Warwick Center Cemetery in the spring.
Donations in Irene’s memory can be made to: the Orange Historical Society, P.O. Box 28, Orange, MA 01364-0028
Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, is assisting the family.
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