ADAMS, Mass. —  

Irene Frances Ferrari, age 91, died on 21 September 2026 at the North Adams Regional Hospital from complications following hip surgery. She was born in Adams, Massachusetts on January 13, 1935 during the middle of the Great Depression; the first of what would become a family of four children born to Peter F. Paciorek and Victoria M. (Cwiertniewicz) Paciorek.

Irene attended St. Stanislaus Kostka School and then continued her education in the Adams public school system. She graduated with a degree from the commercial program of Adams High School in 1952. She would eventually go on to obtain an associate degree in accounting from Berkshire Community College. Her jobs were many and varied throughout her life with the first major one being as the bookkeeper for Delisle and Company Plumbing and Heating. After the close of the plumbing shop she found herself working a couple of jobs at the same time. The majority of her work career would end up being with Smith Brothers – McAndrews Insurance Agency from which she retired as office manager. While working in that capacity she became a member and treasurer of the Berkshire County Chapter of the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Women.

On 4 March 1972 she married Arthur G. Ferrari and acquired a married stepson, Michael, and eventually four grandchildren. The couple had no children of their own. Throughout her life she was generous and kind to her extended family.

Irene excelled at sewing, crocheting and baking pies. She lived in more houses than most people especially when you consider all but one were in Adams. She enjoyed redecorating all those homes. Other interests were world travel with her best friend and cousin Diane Freitag; gambling; reading; and weekend card games with family and friends. She was a Rosary Sodality member and sang in Catholic church choirs. Irene was a founding member of the Mount Greylock Garden Club. She also volunteered at the old North Adams Hospital gift and flower shop.

She leaves sisters, Patricia Duncan of San Antonio, Texas; plus Linda Thompson of Pittsfield and a brother Peter F. Paciorek and his wife Patricia of Flower Mound, TX plus several nieces and nephews. Dana Kingsbury her partner, with whom she shared her life and home, spent Irene’s last days lovingly by her side. Also dear to her was her Goddaughter Sheri Lancaster who devoted much of her time and energy toward making better the lives of both Dana and Irene. In addition to her stepson Michael and his wife Carol of Walterboro, SC she is survived by their children Jennifer (Dr. John) Schenck of Spartanburg, SC; Aaron Ferrari of Charleston, SC; Dr. Christina Ferrari (Dr. Nicolas Maldonado) of New Port Richey, Florida; and Angela (Jason) Merchey of Hendersonville, NC plus five great grandchildren.

A funeral Mass will take place on 7 October at 11:00 a.m. in St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Adams. Family will be available for visitation at the church from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the funeral. Following the Mass interment will be in the St. Stanislaus Kostka Cemetery. The Paciorek Funeral Home in Adams, MA will be in charge of funeral arrangements.