Irene Cecelia (Freyre) Nezhad Obituary

#Middlebury #Obituary

Beloved mother and grandmother

Mrs. Irene Cecelia (Freyre) Nezhad of Middlebury passed away peacefully at home, with her family by her side, on Wednesday, Aug. 16. She had celebrated her 80th birthday on Monday, Aug. 7. She was the loving widow of Dr. Manouchehr “Michael” F. Nezhad, to whom she was married for 56 years.

Irene Nezhad was born in New York, N.Y., on Aug. 7, 1937, a daughter of the late Abraham and Efigenia Freyre.

Family was of paramount importance to Irene and she most enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren, both in Middlebury and at her summer home in Westbrook, Conn. Irene was an avid cook, gardener, bridge player, and UCONN Huskies fan. She was spirited, elegant and a gracious and generous hostess. She traveled extensively and lived in Iran for four years, where she worked at the U.S. Embassy. She was a past president of the Waterbury Hospital Auxiliary and served on the Waterbury Regional Center’s Human Rights Committee. Irene was a supporter of the the Oak Hill School for the Blind and the Special Olympics and was an active member of St. John of the Cross Church in Middlebury.

Mrs. Nezhad is survived by her siblings, Alicia Freyre; Edna Allen and her husband, John; and Joseph Freyre and his wife, Donna. She also is survived by her children, Janet Nezhad Band, Juliet Nezhad Seymour, Michael Nezhad and Dr. Steven Nezhad, and their spouses Laurence Band, Peter Seymour and Aimee Nezhad. She leaves behind seven grandchildren: Oliver Band, Isabelle Band, Jonathan Seymour, William Seymour, Charles Seymour, Annalee Nezhad and Sabine Nezhad — all of whom knew the warmth of her love.

The funeral will be Saturday, Aug. 19, at 10 a.m. at Chase Parkway Memorial/The Albini Family Funeral Home at 430 Chase Parkway in Waterbury to St. John of the Cross Church in Middlebury for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Lake Elise Cemetery in Middlebury.

Calling hours will be Friday, Aug. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

For more information or to send e-condolences, visit www.chaseparkwaymemorial.com.