Donald Ireland

OXFORD – Donald S. Ireland, 81, of Liberty Lane, died Thursday, July 5, 2018, at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Dorothy E. (Eppley) Ireland of Oxford; 11 children, Donald “Stu” Ireland and his husband Stephen Bergeron of Limestone, ME, Ruth Ireland of Denver, CO, Susan Ireland of Lowell, AnnMarie Ireland of New York, Russell Ireland of Oxford, Richard Ireland and his wife Mae of Oxford, Wilfred Ireland and his wife Sherry of Kings Mountain, NC, Nancy Dulmaine and her husband Dana of Rutland, William Ireland and his wife Jessica of Pomfret, CT, Karen Bandy of South Carolina, and Catherine Ireland of Salem, NH; a brother, Chester Ireland of Worcester; 20 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and several nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his sister Ruth Riendeau. He was born in Worcester, son of the late Chester and Minnie (Hill) Ireland, and lived in Shrewsbury before moving to Oxford in 1949.

Mr. Ireland worked at Westvaco Envelope Company for over 20 years, retiring in 1984. In addition, he was an automobile mechanic, towed vehicles, and worked at Woodside Dairy during his career. He owned and operated Don’s Spa in North Oxford for several years. Mr. Ireland was a member of the Oxford Lodge of Masons for over 40 years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in North Oxford and was a former youth counselor at the church. He was an umpire for Lassie League softball in Oxford and drove the van for the Oxford Senior Center for several years.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 11, 2018, at the First Baptist Church, 693 Main St., North Oxford. Burial will be private at a later date at Worcester County Memorial Park in Paxton. Calling hours are Tuesday, July 10, 2018, from 4-7 p.m. at Paradis-Givner Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oxford. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 577, North Oxford, MA 01537, or to the Oxford Ecumenical Food Shelf, 4 Maple Rd., Oxford, MA 01540.