Irene Pratt

Irene Agnes (Deschenes) Pratt, 84, of Winchester passed away at her home on Saturday, September 20, 2008 after a period of declining health.

Irene was born on March 30, 1924 in Jaffrey and was raised in Jaffrey. She was the youngest of four daughters of Charles and Rosanna (Derosier) Deschenes. Belonging to a large extended family while growing up during the Depression was a source of many stories she would later share with others. Irene attended Conant High School and was Captain of the girls basketball team. After high school she was accepted into the nursing programs at Johns Hopkins and at Massachusetts General Hospital. She received her diploma as a Registered Nurse from MGH in 1946, and recently attended her 60th reunion.

Irene married Philip Ernest Pratt, also from Jaffrey, in December 1946. At that time, Philip was in the Army, having interrupted his college education at the University of New Hampshire. After marriage, Philip completed his BA in science and taught high school sciences and mathematics. They moved several times from Durham to Jaffrey, Errol, West Lebanon, and Wilton, CT, before arriving in Winchester in 1953 where they would live for the rest of their lives. By then three of their children had already been born, Susan (Mooney), Stephen, and Stuart. Smith was born in 1958. When Stuart began school, Irene became the school nurse and then the visiting nurse for Winchester. She worked at the Elliot Hospital before becoming the County Health Officer for Cheshire County, a position she held until her retirement in 1985. Irene was very successful in bringing people together to work on projects or to promote policy changes that would be of benefit to people in need of services. Irene served on the Board of Directors of Home Health Care and Community Services, Monadnock Family Services, Big Brothers and Sisters, and the NH Chapter of the American Nursing Association. She was the primary founder of the Keene Interdisciplinary Child Abuse Team.

Her husband, Philip was a popular teacher and three seasons girls coach, who had retired in 1983. Irene had been active on the school board and in the 1960s, supported joining the cooperative that became Monadnock Regional High School. On this topic and others, she would write letters to the editor that were published in the Keene Sentinel. She realized that others also held these opinions and the letters gave them a voice as well. After retirement, Irene decided to run as a state representative from Winchester campaigning for adult and childrens health care, education and other social issues. She never lost an election and in one campaign received more votes than did the popular presidential candidate. Irene was in the Legislature for 16 years and served on the Children, Youth and Juvenile Justice Committee, which evolved through the Judiciary and Family Law Committee to the current Children, and Family Law Committee. She sponsored and co-sponsored many bills that were intended to improve the lives of children and their families. Working behind the scenes she was instrumental in bringing the WICS program to New Hampshire. Philip suffered a stroke in 1989 and recovered well enough to accompany his wife to Concord for House sessions. Philip Pratt passed away in 1998.

Irene did not run for a ninth term due to failing vision. She retired from public service and continued to live in the home that she and Philip had purchased 50 years before. During those early years they encouraged their children who were active in 4-H with gardening, raising chickens and sheep, and exhibiting at county fairs. A large portion of the Pradess Farm (Pratt) property was recently protected by a conservation easement through the Monadnock Conservancy conservation trust, fulfilling a life long vision to preserve the property for future families to enjoy as the Pratts had.

She is survived by her four children and their spouses; her grandchildren, great grandchildren, a sister, Lib (Elizabeth) Doane, and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

In lieu of flowers, a contribution can be made to Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services, PO Box 564, Keene, NH 03431 or to the Philip E. Pratt Scholarship Fund (3661-1), NH Charitable Foundation, 37 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301-4005

Burial will take place at the convenience of the family in Evergreen Cemetery in Winchester.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, September 25, 2008 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Cournoyer Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 33 River Street, (Route 202) Jaffrey.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday September 26, 2008 at 11:00 AM at Mary Queen of Peace Church, (St. Stanislaus) Richmond Road (Route 119), Winchester. Rev. Daniel O. Lamothe, V.F. will be the celebrant.