Obituary of Irene D Ballard

Irene D. Ballard (Giroux), of Cohoes, passed peacefully in her sleep on December 18, 2020 from complications due to Alzheimer’s. Irene was born in Cohoes, NY on April 9, 1938 to Maximillien and Bernadette Hamelin Giroux; she was one of fifteen children. Irene is predeceased by her husband of 51 years, Phillip C. Ballard, Sr., of Cohoes, in 2009, infant twin boys, James and Joseph, and her brothers Conrad, Gaston, Germain, John, Paul, Jacques, Fernand, Michael and Donald and her sisters, Denise, Germain, Lorraine and Claire. Irene is survived by her two sisters, Angele (Spickler) and Bernice (Atchinson). Coming from strong Canadian, Catholic lineage, Irene’s parents moved to Cohoes, NY to raise their family. Irene attended St. Joseph’s School, then Keveny Memorial Academy. Irene began work at a young age as a waitress and later in life at Harmony Hill Elementary School cafeteria, as a lunch lady. Her prized title, however, was Mom and later Mim. Irene dedicated her life to making her family her priority and instilling family values to the core of all she did. Irene exemplified home is where the heart is and was happiest when surrounded by her entire family and all the shenanigans that they embarked on. Irene is survived by her children Chris, Phil (Ellen), Dennis Sr. (Joni), Maxine (Lou), Rick (Marcy) and Tammy (Leslie), her grandchildren, Becky (Freddy), Shelton Jr. (Jade), Nicholas (Lindsey), Vicki (Paul), Erica, Phil III (Casey), Justin (Kristin), Dennis Jr. (Christina), Danielle (Rich), Roxanne, Jason, Zacharie (Toni), Heather (Darcy), Shelbie and Bijou and her great-grandchildren, Joaquin, Kamilla, Olivia, Gabrielle, Smith, Elouise, Weston, Lily, Tyler, Natalie, Warren, Sabrina, Calee, Luna, Chloe and Amelia. A special thank you to the staff in House 16 at The Eddy Village Green for being Irene’s family that took care of her in our absence. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Eddy Village Green at Cohoes, 200 Village Green Dr., Cohoes, NY 12047. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 at 11:00am at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Cohoes where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Interment will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Waterford. The family will receive friends at the DUFRESNE FUNERAL HOME, Inc., 216 Columbia Street, Cohoes on Tuesday morning from 9:00 to 10:30am prior to the Mass. Masks are required and social distancing will be observed inside and outside of the funeral home.