Irene E. (Desilets) Desilets-Proulx, 91, a native and former resident of Haverhill, died Thanksgiving Day in Exeter, N.H.
Born, raised and educated in Haverhill, daughter of the late John and Albertine (Gagnon) Desilets, she was a member of the Haverhill High School class of 1942, and received her associates degree in Music Education from Lowell State College. An accomplished pianist, Desilets-Proulx gave piano lessons to several generations of Haverhill children and was also the accompanist at the dance recitals for the late Ruth Parker and also Elaine (MacLeod) Ellis. She was a member of All Saints Parish and the former Saint Joseph Parish and lived in Haverhill for most of her life until moving to Westminster, Colo., in 2005. She returned to the area in 2012, after the death of her second husband and lived first in Nottingham before settling in Exeter, N.H., 18 months ago.
Mrs. Desilets-Proulx was an avid bird watcher and was also very devoted to her pets and also enjoyed baking, gardening and spending many happy times with her family at her summer home in Nottingham.
She was predeceased in 1986 by her husband of 41 years, William J. Desilets and by her second husband Donald Proulx in 2012 and by her grandson Aram C. Keleshian III.
She leaves her daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen A. and Aram Keleshian of Methuen; son and daughter-in-law, Eric W. and Audra Desilets of Nottingham, N.H.; four grandchildren, Kristopher W. Keleshian of Methuen, Eric W. Desilets Jr. and Nichole A. (Desilets) Dobens, both of Raymond, N.H. and Stephanie M. Desilets of Nottingham; and a great grand-daughter, Sophie M. Desilets.
Relatives and friends are invite to attend Desilets-Proulx’s life celebration Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Berube-Comeau Funeral Home, 47 Broadway, Haverhill. Her funeral will be Thursday Dec. 3, at 11 a.m. from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial at noon in All Saints Church, 120 Bellevue Ave., Haverhill. A private family burial service will take place at a later time in Saint Joseph Cemetery, Haverhill.