Obituary of Irene Lofgren Avery

Irene Lofgren Avery of Essex, CT, formerly of Riverside, CT, died peacefully on January 23, 2019 at the age of 90. She was predeceased by her husband, David, with whom she shared 26 years of loving marriage. A previous marriage ended in divorce. Irene was born in New York City and raised in Riverside. She graduated from Wheaton College (Mass.) with a degree in psychology and earned a Master’s in Education from the University of Bridgeport. She taught second grade at Cos Cob School in Greenwich for nearly 20 years and never lost her natural affinity for children.  After she and David retired, they enjoyed traveling and gardening together, and moved to Essex Meadows in 1997. Irene was a natural athlete and enjoyed playing tennis until she was 86. Irene was the daughter of the late Gustaf Einar and Ludmela Cherney Lofgren. A brother, Robert, predeceased her. She is survived by her two loving daughters, Susan Howland Marcheschi (Donald) of Glenview, IL and Elizabeth Howland Bagley (George) of Falmouth, MA, and two grandchildren, Gordon and Elizabeth Bagley.  In addition, she was a loving stepmother to William, Thomas (deceased), David, Christopher and Carol Avery and their families. A service celebrating Irene’s life will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2019 at 11:00AM at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, on the corner of Lyme Street and Ferry Road  with a reception immediately following in Hamilton Hall, Essex Meadows. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Essex Meadows Scholarship Foundation, of which Irene was treasurer for 17 years, c/o Essex Meadows, 30 Bokum Road, Essex, CT 06426. Her family also would like to thank the incredible staff of Essex Meadows and its Health Center for the care and compassion shown Irene over the many years she lived there and during her brief illness.