Sister Irene Doris Charron (Sister Ann), age 103, a Sister of Providence for 81 years, died March 30, 2024, at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, Washington. Vigil: Monday, April 8, 2024, 3:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Residence, 4800 37th Ave. SW, Seattle, Washington. Funeral Mass: Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at St. Joseph Residence. Bonney Watson Funeral Home oversees arrangements.
Sister Irene was born on October 4, 1920, in Duluth, Minnesota, to John Baptiste and Mable (Olsen) Charron. Her younger brother Edward preceded her in death. As an infant, her family moved to Yakima, Washington. Her childhood was filled with love and fond memories of their neighborhood there which teemed with children and family. Sister Irene would fondly recall her father playing Run-Sheep-Run in the streets, popping popcorn with grandparents, and the special Friday nights when families would gather for children’s boxing night.
In 1940, Sister Irene graduated High School from St. Joseph Academy in Yakima. In 1951, she received a Bachelor of Arts in education/history from the College of Great Falls (now University of Providence) and, in 1965, she earned a master’s in library science from the University of Portland.
The seed of a vocation in religious life emerged in Sister Irene on her first day of school at St. Joseph Academy in Yakima. She was taught by the Sisters of Providence and she recognized and announced to her mother her intention of becoming a Sister and a teacher. She entered the Sisters of Providence in 1942, became a novice in 1943, received First Vows in 1944 and Final Vows in 1947.
Sister Irene ministered for many years as an Elementary Teacher at Providence Academy, Vancouver, Washington (1944-47); Immaculate Conception Grade School, Fairbanks, Arkansas (1947-52, 1954-56); St. Joseph Grade School, Yakima (1951-52); Our Lady of the Holy Rosary School, Sun Valley, California (1952-54); Holy Rosary School, Moxee, Washington; (1957-59); and Maryville Academy, Des Plaines, Illinois (1957-59). She was the second Librarian at Providence High School, Burbank, California (1966-67,1969) and a Medical Librarian at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Yakima (1972-88). She served as Sister Representative, at St. Elizabeth Medical Center (1987-94) and Providence Yakima Medical Center (1994-88). She was also a regular Patient Visitor and volunteer at Providence Yakima Medical Center. She moved to St. Joseph Residence in West Seattle in 2004.
One of the highlights of Sister Irene’s life was being called to be a Sister of Providence. She was thankful to her community and felt being a Sister of Providence was a way of life, following in the footsteps of Jesus, being a dedicated, loving person with priority for the poor and marginalized.
To view Sister Irene’s obituary and picture and to sign her memory book, please visit the website for Bonney-Watson Funeral Home at bonneywatson.com.
