Irene Hamilton Winner On June 3, 2006 Irene Hamilton Winner passed away peacefully at the Ringers Home Care in Vergennes. On April 18, 1920 she was born in Tampico Mexico as Irene Elizabeth Hamilton to Charles Walter and Lucille (Stroup) Hamilton while Charles was conducting oil exploration for Gulf Oil. As a teenager she returned and lived in Mexico for a short time where she developed a deep passion for the country, people and customs. Irene graduated from Montclair High School and attended the University of Michigan where she studied Music and further developed her passion for opera and classical music. She later worked in New York City for several years and received formal voice training. She appeared in several theater productions for the Upper Montclair Womens Club. On July 18, 1947 Irene married James Robert Winner Jr. and raised their 4 sons in Upper Montclair until 1961 when they moved to Cornwall. They opened the Winham Craft House one year later until her husband passed away in October 1994. Shortly after his death she moved to Battell Hill in Middlebury to be near her son. Irene was very active in the D.A.R., Colonial Dames in Cornwall and a volunteer at the Porter Hospital and Sheldon Museum in Middlebury. Irene was an accomplished writer and won several awards for the league of Women Writers. She had many other activities that included swimming, walking, gardening and a knowledge of history that often amazed friends and family. Irene is survived by her sister Jean Parsons from North Carolina, her 4 sons; Chip Winner and his wife Marie and daughters Connie and Katharine of Middlebury; Pete and his wife Marie of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania; Jeff and his wife Toni and daughter Jessica and son Tim and his wife Stephanie and Irenes great grandson, Ethan, from Oneonta, New York; Bruce and his wife Marge of Rochester New York. Besides her husband, Bob, she was predeceased by her parents and brothers Robert and Charles. The family will receive friends from 5-7 PM Wednesday at Sanderson Funeral Service, 117 South Main St., Middlebury. The funeral will be held at the Middlebury Congregational Church in Middlebury at 11 AM Thursday, June 8, 2006. In lieu of flowers, Irene has requested that donations be made to the Addison County Home Health and Hospice, PO Box 754 Middlebury Vermont 05753 or Elderly Services, 112 Exchange Street, Box 581 Middlebury, Vermont 05753. Irene will be laid to rest in Mount Hebron Cemetery, Montclair, New Jersey. Arrangements are under the direction of Sanderson Funeral Service, 117 South Main , Middlebury. You may go to www.sandersonfuneralservice.com