Lenore Adele Irion of Saxton’s River, Vt., died peacefully just before daybreak on Sept. 11. For seven weeks she had been in the care of her sister and medical hospice in her home in Alstead, N.H. Her sister and two devoted friends were at her side.

Even as her physical strength diminished, her sense of wonder kept growing. The late summer weeks provided so much richness outdoors in the gardens that surrounded her. Friends brought her flowers, played music, read to her, had meaningful conversations and expressed their gratitude and love.

Born in 1952 into a family of six, Lenore spent her school years growing up in Wayne, Pa. She settled on the Vineyard in 1973. Her love of the Island began in 1957 when her family first took their annual vacation up-Island for three glorious weeks. Many of her favorite places and memories were from the Island. It was there that she made her closest friends

After 10 years of living and working in various Island businesses, Lenore returned to Pennsylvania and then Delaware to care for her aging parents, settling finally in New Hampshire and then Vermont.

Although a private person, she touched many kinds of people with her warmth and kindness and pure heart. She was unaware of her innocent charm.

Animals were her loves, and the 11 dogs that she rescued were her beloved companions.

As told to her friends in her final weeks, her greatest accomplishments included caring for her parents in their last years. “It was an honor. We were a threesome. I felt proud of them and people could see that we loved each other tremendously,” she said.

She also said she had loved her childhood and always loved to laugh.

She will be greatly missed by her siblings, Christopher, Bert, and Jennifer, and by her nieces and nephews, Adele, Aubrey, Amanda, and Breton who were all blessed by her presence in the family.