Photos
January 5, 1981- A welcome back party for Irene at PS 204. Irene had been out and in the hospital for surgery from November through the holidays. We were all so happy she returned we threw her a surprise party after school. Cider champagne, crackers and a choice of cakes. (Of course she aimed for the chocolate.)The ladies were Josephine, Rosemary, Adi, Saralee,Phyllis, Ceil,Linda S. Linda P and Shirley. Two couldn't be there in person. but they were there in spirit.
For those who didn't think Irene was sentimental. This photo was the cover from a handmade gift made for her that she kept over 35 years from her teaching days. It was found in a box of treasured cards, letters and well wishes from her colleagues and friends in Brooklyn.
This photo was taken by NCL in 2007 when Irene went on the Norwegian Spirit cruise with OLHC. She loved being on the water, having dinner served and being with the church group. She said the Carnival Line ship's crew was wonderful and she loved having photos taken with everyone.
1990- Irene and Eddie's most favorite spot in Ogunquit was right off their cottage on the Ogunquit River. It had a natural path to cross from the cottage to the sands of Ogunquit Beach on the other side. Each day the river would empty at low tide and they would walk across the riverbed to the beach for a swim and sun bathing.Of course they always timed coming back before high tide because Eddie could not row a boat! They only made the mistake of staying too long just once in all the years they vacationed in Maine.
1989- A windy day in Maine, but nothing stopped Irene and Eddie from going near the water, (definitely not in it,) before going out to have dinner. It was truly heaven on earth there. All the pressures of NYC way behind them.
1984 - Odiorne State Park in Portsmouth NH (just a few minutes ride from Prescott Park and of course the shopping draw of Kittery Maine.) The beautiful flowers of Prescott Park were the attraction there and of course Odiorne's attraction was the view. Irene and Eddie drove to NH to visit just one day each summer, but they spent most of their vacation time on Route 1 exploring Maine.
Irene always hoping to travel to far away places. Always renewed her passports. She did get to fly to Europe and joined her church on a cruise to the Islands.
Photos taken : August 23, 1962, June 17, 1997 and the last photo January 25, 2008. By next renewal date January 2018 Irene wasn't feeling up to going beyond her local travels in the neighborhood, but she had some good church friends who took her places when she could no longer drive.
1987- On the road to Kennebunkport. The Bush home in the background. If they went on that road and into Kennebunk, and Kennebunkport once they must have gone at least 50 times in all the summers they went to Maine. Not once did they run into the Bush family, but the ride was great and it always meant either shopping or dinner out, sometimes both!
1990-They had to go to Maine a little later in that summer and Irene said It was a little cooler for that trip. It didn't matter they had daily outings and even though some days at the water were chilly they had cover ups to keep them warm. They still found places to visit both old and new.
1981- Hampton Bays- Irene reading the paper in a quiet space away from the house, (mostly because there was no big porch.) However, the roaming photographer could find her wherever she was. (She was pleased he didn't disturb her, in fact she said she didn't even know he had taken that until the fall when the film was finally developed.)
1981- Irene and Vinnie trying to have a private conversation, but their roaming photographer brother, Eddie, followed them. Even though they thought their "second" spot was secure, he got them again!!!
1981- Hampton Bays- Poor Irene trying to read the paper on the beach, but Eddie decided to take a photo, so she decided to go search (alone) for sea shells, but didn't get too far before Eddie called her and got her again. It was a good try on her part, but didn't quite work out how she planned.
1981 Hampton Bays- Getting ready to go out to a restaurant. Vinnie driving, Irene getting Mrs, Breen into the car and of course, Eddie, the guy who never left his camera at home on any vacation, taking the photos.
1982- Irene arriving at the old Cottage in Hampton Bays that would be the last summer vacation she would share with her mother.
1982- Hampton Bays - Outside the old cottage that had a back porch for relaxing to read the paper and a smaller porch just to have a little sun and conversation.
Irene outside Lord's Harborside Restaurant in Wells Maine. A favorite local place for easy, comfortable, dining for fish dinners.The sign behind her is the Harbor Master indicator for those coming by other than walking or car. For Eddie and Irene, it was a relaxing short ride not far from the cottage.
1986 - Kennebunk Book Port where Irene shopped for a book to bring back for Vinnie and one she could read on rainy days in Maine, (usually one by Mary Higgins Clark). In the fall we would trade Mary Higgins Clark books.
1986- Irene and Eddie on the Portland Waterfront. Always an exciting expedition whether to see old familiar places and old friends or new places and new friends. They loved the two weeks each summer they went to Maine.
1986- Irene and Eddie outside The Cape Arundel Inn before having dinner at its glass walled 'Ocean Restaurant' in Kennebunkport.
1986- Kennebunkport- Irene and Eddie at a photo stop where the VP Bush Home was in the background. The closest they could get to it was down the road, but they were thrilled to be able to get that close. She said they were sorry that Hugh missed that day out. Afterwards they went out shopping and then to dinner.
1985- Kennebunkport -Eddie shopping downstairs for books to read and Irene shopping upstairs for practical items for home.
Irene and Eddie didn't have Hugh on this 1985 walk along the rocky southern Coastline of Maine, so they took turns taking photos of each other sitting on the rocks. They truly loved Maine and the Coastal towns. Irene said they waited too long to get the film developed, so the photos didn't come out the way they had hoped, but they kept them as memories just the same.
1985- On a quiet walk in Kennebunk next to the bay to relax, have some lunch and maybe shop. To Irene those were was the best things to do on vacation. The 1985 summer was a well deserved vacation for Irene, the school year was rough one.
1941- Irene, Eddie and Vinnie at Asbury Beach. The family, (while the children were young,) made annual visits to NJ during summer vacations. The Marine Grill was a lovely restaurant according to stories Irene told. The Marine Grill Restaurant behind them has been torn down and new apartments were built on the property.
1988 Day 4. Irene and Eddie rested and decided to take a walk along the Marginal Way. Eddie with his two cameras and Irene just relaxing leaving everything in the trunk of the car or taking her purse with her and putting it down any chance she could. (As she said, "the walking was enough" for her.)
1988 First day in Maine after the long ride. Both Eddie and Irene were tired and didn't bother doing anything besides buying groceries and stopping at the gazebo. Then back to the Cottage for R&R and a phone call to Hugh to tell him they had arrived.
Most people didn't know that along with Lord And Taylor's in Manhattan and Manhasset, Irene loved shopping in Maine. She used to say it was almost as relaxing as sitting near the water up there, for no matter how far she traveled to shop in Maine, she was always within eyesight of the Ocean. She used to bring a list with her on vacation, shop for birthdays and Christmas holidays, even help Vinnie and Eddie shop for their employees.
Irene's last year in OLHC. This school would be the last school she shared with Eddie and Vinnie. After this was St Agnes' Seminary and then St. Joseph's College.
Summer 1989, of course film was developed in the winter of 1990, (not unusual for the Breens). Irene said you could walk across this inlet when the tide was out, but when the tide came in you had to be a good swimmer or have a boat.
An early dinner out , then an evening at The Arundel Barn Playhouse Theatre, in Arundel, Maine, to see a musical play. In 2016 it was sold and renovated and was renamed The Vinegar Hill Music Playhouse where the performances are only musical concerts. Glad Irene got to see the performances, she loved them, so did Eddie and Hugh McManus!!!.
Irene loved eating out when in Maine, If one looks at the dining places in Maine she frequented, she sometimes had a pattern: First "The Whistling Oyster" and then "The Lively Lobster". As she said, those kinds of places were certainly tough to find in Brooklyn.
1989 On a cool August night in Maine heading out to dinner. Irene spoke of how quiet and peaceful it was that summer and how much she enjoyed going out each night .No cooking, just relaxing, meeting some friends from NY and some total strangers who started up conversations in the restaurants.
1988 The first Breen Family artificial tree. Irene was so proud that she did it all alone and put it in place in the front window, that she took a photo of it as soon as she finished. As she said," It was safer and so much fuller than the real trees." I think it also gave her an excuse to purchase more lights and ornaments. She truly made home an extra special place at Christmas time for her brothers.
Two years later the new fresh Christmas Tree, all decorated, in its "appropriate" place in the library. Irene loved fixing the house for the Christmas holidays. She always put up a fresh Christmas tree and the three Creche scenes she had around the house, one on top of the book case, one on the Mantle and another on a little table all by itself. Later on, it became necessary to buy an artificial tree, but she ALWAYS made sure to have a fresh wreath on the door and when possible, buy some fresh pine to place in a water filled vase.
August 1984 - a warm enough day for Irene to go to Wells Beach (in Maine of course), and get some sun, sand and ocean breezes. It also gave her the opportunity to wear those Jackie O sunglasses!!!!
Irene on the Perkins Cove Maine Drawbridge.
Hopefully this You Tube will be able to stay posted with this photo to give everyone the chance to see what she saw in Maine that day. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=698711690754574
Irene and the rest of the "OLHC Cruise Group" on a cruise that gave her great joy. This photo was taken by the staff on the Carnival Legend and Irene was thrilled to purchase a copy. She had this and several others taken on the cruises in a spot right on her Dining room table.
On the Carnival Cruise the "Dinner Crowd" of OLHC had this picture taken. credit to the Carnival Cruise people for taking it. It was a wonderful evening and the cruise wet Irene's curiosity for more cruises.
Another photo of Irene, Eddie and their Mom seeing Vinnie off for his studies in Rome. Possibly taken by J. Cunningham. (I think it is nicer than the one posted Feb.10, 2019. Just came across this one.)
Whenever near the water Irene was always happy, however, this photo when developed, had the family calling Irene "Olive Oil", (Popeyes thin girlfriend). Today it would be totally "Politically Incorrect". It didn't matter to her, as long as she was near water, nothing would bother her.
What you can't see is little country dog that "tried" to get in the photo. Vinnie of course decided it would be nicer to pay attention to the dog rather than the photographer, and Irene could only laugh at the new "attempted" 4 legged member of the family.
The Breen's annual upstate visit for vacation. (Sometimes wonder from looking at the photos of the trips up there if perhaps the "woods and mountains" in NY weren't among Irene's favorite places.) My guess- She wasn't near water. She was always happiest near the sea.
The children were so happy bringing joy to Irene. The smiles on their faces said it all, and it wasn't just this class of children, but so many that came before and so many that came after.
Irene with Vinnie 1937. Irene's hair has grown, but not enough for her Mom who put that huge bow in her hair. Irene is probably looking to get away from the baby brother who took her place in the family as "The Baby," and away from the photographer who took that photo of her with the BOW in her hair!!!
Irene and Eddie on the bench outside of church. All Irene wanted to do was get into that purse. All her Mom hoped was that as Irene got a little older Irene's hair would grow so she could fix it with bows and barrettes.
Christmas 1986 at Michael and Bridie Fynn's home in 1986. Eddie, Vinnie, Bridie, Michael, Irene and Catherine Flynn McDermott kneeling in front of everyone. Photo taken by a family friend Georgette Oestreicher.
Saying Goodbye to Vinnie as he sails from NY to North American for 4 years in Rome. Look on the dock way in the back, Vinnie's Mom, Eddie, Irene, Don Kenna and Joe Cunningham. (Irene and their Mother told Vinnie they would raise their hands so he would know they were there.)
1962 after Vinnie's Ordination. "During ordination a new priest’s hands are anointed with chrism as a sign of consecration and of the change that has been effected in his soul.
The custom of kissing his hands stems from a recognition of the fundamental change that has occurred and of the particular importance of the sign of the hands in priestly ministry.
After ordination the priest uses his hands to hold the Eucharistic species during the consecration, to make the sign of the cross while absolving sins, to anoint the sick and dying, and on occasion to impart the sacrament of confirmation."
Here Irene kisses Vincent's hands to recognize their importance in his new Ministry.
Norman Rockwell had the first picture Of the Girl in the Mirror in the POST March of 1954. I believe someone in the family saw it and remembered it on Irene's Graduation night in May 1955. (And just so you see the difference between Rockwell's treatment of the poor doll in his painting and Irene's treatment of hers, her doll in the photo was taken in 2019.)
Find Irene in her "Folk Dance" Gym class.Hint- she is tall. (She wasn't very fond of gym classes). She was that way in NCH rehab 2018 as well! As usual, like it or not, she still did what was expected.
Trip to Ireland photo taken by Michael Flynn. Standing, L-R, cousin Fr. Edward Breen, my Aunt Ess Morrissey Kelly, cousins Rose Briggs, Irene Breen, Irene Conway Breen, Fr. Vincent Breen, Michael's grandmother Mary Anne Rankin Morrissey, cousin Mena Morrissey, Granny Chapman (unrelated), cousin Eddie Chapman and Bridie (Bridget Hourigan). Kneeling, L-R, cousin Ann Chapman, Michael's Aunts: Agg Morrissey Briggs and Kitty Morrissey Chapman, cousins Joan Chapman and Esther Doherty.
May 1987 Irene and Sister Thomas Francis at Vinnie's 25th Anniversary. Sister Thomas kept her "Nursing Eye" on both Vinnie and Irene when they were hospitalized earlier in their lives, both of them at different times close to death. She was loved by both of them for her watchful eye and her encouragement.
Celebrating Eddie's 50th Year as a priest- May 2008- Irene planned, organized and ran the party at Douglaston. She was the best "one person" Committee anyone could ask for to help celebrate such a BIG Anniversary!!!
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