Irene Resendes died peacefully at her Edgartown home and surrounded by her family on Feb. 10. She was 67.

She was born in New Bedford on Nov. 16, 1954. She grew up in Fairhaven, graduated from Fairhaven High School in 1972, and then graduated from Fitchburg State College in 1976. After college, she moved to the Boston area and worked at Thorndike, Doran, Paine and Lewis for several years. In 1984 she moved to the Vineyard to be closer to her family.

She joined Martha’s Vineyard Insurance Company in 1984 and worked there until retiring in December 2020. She ended her career as a senior vice president.

Irene enjoyed traveling and over the years was fortunate to visit France, Switzerland, Italy, Hong Kong, Portugal, Jamaica and Bermuda. There was a memorable vacation driving from Boston to Los Angeles. She also enjoyed many great times visiting family and friends in Florida.

Her passions included family parties, cooking, gardening, beach visits with her great-nephews Riley and Tanner, knitting and harbor cruises with her partner Bob Faulkner. She had tremendous fun planning and putting on a fantastic dinner under the stars in her backyard one year, just to entertain her friends. She hosted a ladies dinner each December so her friends and family could have a night off from Christmas chores and simply enjoy time together. She truly was the “hostess with the mostess.”

She was a member of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, having joined in the usual way: her mother signed her up. She served as a chapter officer and spent one term as a state officer. Her beach plum jelly was a great fundraiser every year for the state organization. She also gave back to the community as a volunteer tutor with the local literacy program. She always thought about others and often made meals for those going through difficult times.

Irene was predeceased by her parents, Albert and Frances Resendes, and her sister Mary Vancour. She is survived by her partner of 30 years, Robert Faulkner; her sister Jo-Ann; her brother Richard and his wife Kathy; brother in law Stephen Vancour; and her aunt Catherine Griffin. She also leaves her nephews John Resendes and Michael Resendes and their families, and her nieces Emma Vancour Damier and Martha Vancour Shiels and their families. She will be remembered by the wonderful lifelong friends she made in college and her numerous cousins and many good friends on the Vineyard, who stood by her through the last few years.

Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society, the Alzheimer’s Fund, VNA of Cape Cod, Hospice, or to a charity of your choice.

For online guestbook and more information, please visit chapmanfuneral.com.