Irene Ann Sprague

Irene Ann Lamansky Sprague, RN, died on December 23, 2020, at the age of 91. She was born on February 7, 1929 in Millville, MA, to Anna and Joseph Lamansky.

After graduating high school she earned a Nursing degree at the Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing. In 1950 Irene married Delbert D Sprague, who made a career serving in the Navy. As a Navy wife, she lived in 11 states and worked as a RN in numerous hospitals. She had three children, Thomas (1952), Linda (1953) and Timothy (1955). In June 1961, Irene and the family made the last Navy move to Decatur, GA, which was her home for the remainder of her life.

Irene worked as a RN at Emory Hospital and was accepted to Emory University where she earned a Bachelor's and a Master's Degree in Nursing. She taught nursing at St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing, Piedmont Hospital School of Nursing and Clayton Junior College where she helped start the nursing school program. She later worked for Georgia State University in the Department of English and the Department of Economics until she retired in December 1997.

Irene divorced in 1978. Subsequently, she met Stanislaw Gorka who became Irene's lifelong friend and companion until he passed away in 2008. They traveled around the country visiting friends and relatives.

Irene was a deeply religious person and was committed to the Lutheran Church. She was extremely proud of her daughter, Linda who worked at Emory University Hospital in the Department of Dietetics for 47 years. She was also very proud of her sons Thomas and Timothy who both graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Anna Lamansky. She leaves behind a daughter Linda (Decatur, GA) and two sons, Thomas (Marietta, GA), Timothy (Virginia Beach, VA), as well as five grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. She has lovingly touched family, relatives, friends and neighbors throughout her lifetime.