Irene Henry O'Brien, age 74, passed away on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 in Annapolis. Born in Flushing, New York, she was the daughter of the late John Edward Henry and Marian (Howard) Henry.

She was preceded in death by her beloved daughter Kristen Ann O'Brien Hardy and by her sister Mary Ann Thwaites. She is survived by her daughter, Kelly Ann O'Brien and her husband Christopher Caneer Feldmann of Arnold, MD and son, Kevin Andrew O'Brien and his wife Amanda O'Brien of Port St. Lucie, FL.

Irene leaves behind five grandchildren, Daniel James O'Brien, Sean Michael O'Brien, Shane Henry O'Brien, Lucinda Madden Feldmann, and Spencer Henry Feldmann, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

As a young teenager, Irene moved to Framingham, MA with her family and was proud to be part of the inaugural graduating class of Marian High School. She was a college student prior to her marriage to Edward Francis O'Brien, after which she became a stay at home mom and homemaker. Following divorce, Irene relocated with her three children to Middletown, NJ to be near her sister and became a Certified Medical Assistant. Some years later, while living in the Ft. Lauderdale, FL area, Irene became interested in real estate and the mortgage lending business. She was a mortgage broker for many years with Shearson Lehman Brothers. Moving to Orlando to enjoy her first three grandsons, Irene was able to combine her love of shopping with a third career, working her way up to store manager with TJX-Marshalls.

After fifteen years of living in O-town, Irene relocated to Annapolis to be closer to her youngest two grandchildren and to seek an active semi-retirement lifestyle. She continued to enjoy her 26 year relationship with Marshalls in Annapolis as a part-time customer coordinator.

Irene was a life-long student and took great joy in learning something new every day. She loved to read the great books of literature, as well as the latest bestsellers. She took back-to-back Russian Literature courses through Anne Arundel Community College for the past eight years. She also took Opera Appreciation and Conversational Spanish every few years. She was a movie and local theatre buff – and never missed her grandchildren's many musical theater, choral, orchestra and band performances. She was a caring, loving and supportive mother, and a friend to all who met her.

Family and friends may visit on Saturday, June 3, 2017 from 10a - 11a at the Barranco & Sons, P.A. Severna Park Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Hwy. A Celebration of Life service will be held immediately following the visitation at 11a. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Irene's memory to Breast Cancer Research Foundation, www.bcrfcure.org.

Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com