CAMDEN — Irene Frye Eaton, 91, died Friday, August 13, 2021, at Quarry Hill, after a period of declining health.

Born March 19, 1930, in Thomaston, to William A. Frye, and Agatha Gove (Towle) Frye. She was raised in Rockland in her early years, and then in Rockville. she graduated from Rockport High School in 1949, and  considered Rockville her childhood home.

While living in Rockville, she met David R. Eaton. The couple were married on September 3, 1949 at her parent’s home, attended by Thelma and Carleton Taylor of Union, with whom they maintained a life-long friendship.

David and Irene lived briefly in Springfield and Holyoke, Massachusetts, while David completed his Air Force Service, then moved to their home on Old County Road in Rockport, where she lived until 2017. She then moved to the Anderson Inn at Quarry Hill and remained there as a resident, and then as a patient until her passing.

Irene was a homemaker and mother; in addition to their three children, she also provided care and a home for her nephew, Donald M Frye, Jr. from infancy, after the death of his mother, until the age of 9, when his father completed his military service overseas.

Irene supported her husband, David, in his work, and with the many service organizations he was a part of. Hosting gatherings, fundraisers, including collecting census information for the town of Rockport. She was also a founding member of the Glen Cove Garden club.

She and David loved to dance. After David’s death, she continued dancing with her good friend James Wannop who predeceased her. She would never pass up playing cards or a good game of cribbage.

In the early sixties, the Eatons purchased a summer cabin on Crawford Pond in Union, where they enjoyed camp life. The Eatons hosted many family reunions and gatherings at “the cottage” providing family and friends with great memories.

In 1963 when all the children were in school, she began work at Tibbetts Industries in Camden. She had intended to work for only a few years, but instead stayed there for 38 years, until her retirement, at age 71, in June, 2001. She made wonderful friends there, many of those friendships continued until her passing.

Predeceased by her parents; her husband, David R. Eaton Sr. in 1987; her son, David R. Eaton Jr. in 1993; her parents-in-law, Roswell F. Eaton and Sadie B. Eaton; her sisters, Colleen F. Roberts and Florence Fossett, her brothers William A. Frye Jr., Donald M. Frye Sr., and Lawrence Frye; her in-laws, Dorothy E. Lord, Carl F. Eaton, Ethel Ausplund; her nephews, Donald M. Frye Jr., Harold Dauphin; and her nieces Jane Roberts Weaver, Pam Higbee, and Susan Berry.

She is survived by two daughters, Donna Eaton Perry, and her husband Peter, of Hope, and Joyce Eaton Hardy and her husband Fred Waske of Cromwell, Connecticut; her sister, Jean Jones of Camden; her sister-in-law Cynthia Dauphin, of Bath; her sisters-in-law Alice Frye, Esther Frye, and friend Claire Frye; her brother-in-law, Bill Fossett; four grandchildren, Michelle V. Upton and her partner David Hilt of East Union; Joshua S. Hardy and his wife Denise of Palmer, Alaska; Eli Eaton Hardy and his wife Kate of Charlton, Massachusetts; and Ian F. Putansu and his partner Dawn Emery of Lincolnville; her three step-grandsons, Peter Perry, Matthew Perry and Joshua Perry; 16 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews locally, and around the country.

The family would like to thank the staff at Quarry Hill for the outstanding care to they provided to Irene.

An hour of visitation will be held Friday, August 27, 2021, at 3 p.m., at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street in Rockland, followed by a memorial service at 4 p.m. Officiated by Rev. Wendy Anderson of the Nativity Lutheran Church in Rockport, where the Eaton’s were members for years.

For those friends and family unable to attend the service in person, it will be available via webcast. To participate, go to Irene’s Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com. Click on the “Photos and Videos” button and then the “Watch Webcast” button.

Should friends desire, donations in the name of Irene F. Eaton, may be made to the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Maine, 66 Mussey Rd. Scarborough, ME 04074, or online at wish.org/Maine; the Rockville Chapel Restoration Fund, c/o Diane Perry, 5 Lakeview Dr. Rockland, ME 04841; or to the Nativity Lutheran Church, 179 Old County Rd. Rockport, ME 04856.

To share a memory or condolence with Irene’s family, please visit their Book of Memories at bchfh.com

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.