1
tree
planted in memory of Ann LeDuc Irvine
Obituary for Ann LeDuc Irvine
Ann LeDuc Irvine, 92, of Ludlow, former Chapin Street School Nurse, passed away quietly on Friday, October 13, 2023.
Born to Stanley and Margaret LeDuc in Northampton, the family relocated when Ann was 5, to Chesterfield, Mass., after the flood of 1936. Ann and her brother Dave were raised on a farm, and Ann utterly loved country life.
Ann knew early that she wished to become a nurse. She attended Springfield Hospital Nurses Training School and one of her first orders of business was to get the school to change its name to Springfield Hospital School for Nurses, since in her view, you trained dogs, you educated nurses! As a Registered Nurse, Ann worked and taught in the operating room at what is now Baystate Medical Center, loved the intensity of surgery and nursing care, and loved helping deliver babies.
She fell in love with and married Ludlow insurance man and public servant, David Irvine. She enjoyed many friendships and was given five engagement and wedding showers! Ann and Dave raised three children in Ludlow, and valued family time and good friendships above everything. The family had a weekend cabin in Chesterfield where they would mow hay, go canoeing, swim, scrape paint and relax, with no phone to disturb their time there.
Ann went back to school at the Elms College and added a degree in Social Work to her B.A. in nursing. She worked various jobs as a substitute nurse in the Ludlow schools, and as a licensed social worker in Springfield, West Springfield and Holyoke. Late in her career she was the nurse at Chapin Street Elementary School for 13 years, known affectionately as “Nurse Ann.”
An over seven-decade communicant of Saint Cecilia parish in Wilbraham, Ann served for years on the altar society, laundering linens and celebrants albs used in Masses, as well as freshening up and caring for the flowers for services. In later years Ann participated in their Spiritual Growth Group.
Ann’s beloved husband Dave preceded her in death in 2014, and she leaves three children: son Peter (Laurie) Irvine of Vinton, Virginia; two granddaughters: Kaitlin Irvine of Philadelphia, and Rebecca Irvine of Barboursville, Virginia. Son William (Mary-Lu) Irvine of Springfield, Mass.; and daughter Mary Irvine (Jim Ustasiewski) of Juneau, Alaska. She also leaves nephew Raymond (Gail) LeDuc of Easthampton, Mass., niece Charlene LeDuc of Rutland, Vermont, and niece Priscilla LeDuc (Bob Asher) of Northampton, Mass.
Ann appreciated the work done by and also donated to dozens of charities. In nursing school, she heard a talk given by a Maryknoll priest and donated to them ever since. Close to her heart in later years was Crudem.org - a relief organization focused on humanitarian aid to Haiti. The Boys and Girls Club of Ludlow was also a favorite. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to these charities or a charity of your choice.
Visiting hours for Ann will be held on Tuesday October, 17th from 4:30-6:30pm at Ludlow Funeral Home. Funeral services are on Wednesday, October 18th. Family and friends may gather directly at Saint Cecilia Parish, in Wilbraham, at 11:00am for a service officiated by Sister Mary McCue followed by procession to Island Pond Cemetery for burial. Ann’s family has preceded these services with a private Liturgy of Christian Burial at Saint Cecilia Parish.
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Previous Events
Visitation
Tuesday
17
Oct
4:30 PM
- 6:30 PM
Ludlow Funeral Home
432 East St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Service
Wednesday
18
Oct
11:00 AM
St. Cecilia's Parish
42 Main Street
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Cemetery Details
Location
Island Pond Cemetery
499 Center Street
Ludlow, Ma 01056
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