Irene Patricia (Hunte) Armstrong

Irene Patricia Armstrong of Hyattsville, Maryland died peacefully on Thursday, September 17, 2020 at the MedStar Washington Hospital Center, in Washington DC.  Irene was born on January 12, 1935 in the Northwest District of Guyana, South America, where she was raised. She was the only child of James Hunte and Dorothy Small. After leaving high school, she studied to become a seamstress and launched a successful sewing career.  She married Eustace Armstrong on July 4, 1953. Together, they produced six daughters and one son and enjoyed a long and happy married life.

Irene gave up her sewing career to become a full time wife and mother, after the family moved to the capital city of Georgetown, Guyana.  As a confirmed Catholic, she ensured that her children regularly attended church and Sunday School so that they could be raised and confirmed in the Catholic faith. She also fully supported and encouraged them to successfully pursue their educational goals and careers, while at the same time pursuing her own continuing education interests by learning to speak Spanish  and taking classes in several Home Economics subjects including cake decorating. While living in Guyana, she enjoyed traveling and visited several countries within the Caribbean with her cousin and traveling companion. Gardening was another one of her favorite hobbies.

After emigrating to the United States in 1985, Irene quickly immersed herself in her new home and country. A lifelong learner, she immediately enrolled in nursing school and obtained her Certified Nursing Assistant credentials. In 1986, she was employed by the Genesis HealthCare Corporation at the Magnolia Nursing Home in Lanham, MD as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Irene loved her job and was in turn loved and respected by her peers, her patients as well as their relatives. She received many accolades and awards for her outstanding performance on the job. Irene retired in 2009, after 24 years of dedicated service.   She continued her love of traveling by visiting several countries in North America and Europe. She also focused on her hobbies of reading and gardening, by planting and caring for roses and many varieties of flowers at her home. Irene was devout in her faith and read her bible and prayed every day.  

A devoted wife and mother, Irene was a caring, kind and generous grandmother and great-grandmother, a wonderful cousin to many and a friend to all.   She is survived by her loving  husband of 67 years, Eustace Lionel Armstrong, daughters: Cheryl Patricia (Gordon) Barrow, Gloria Pamela Armstrong, Margo Donna Ann (Michael) Hope, Sandra Debbie Armstrong (Wayne) McKinnon, Desiree Angela Sturge, Jacklyn Claire Fuller and son; Bryan Adrian (Patrice) Armstrong: grandmother of Kevin, Kirk and Brittany Barrow, Stacy Hope (Patrick) Langley, Alicia Hope (Cristin) Chall, Michael Adrian Hope, Travis McKinnon, Jeremiah and Sydney Sturge, Melissa Fuller-Woods and Jared and Aubrey Armstrong; great-grandmother of Lucas Langley and Rosalinda Barrow. She is also survived by many cousins, extended family members and friends. 

The family wishes to thank each and every one who has shared well wishes, cards and offered expressions of condolences at this time of their bereavement.

Thursday, October 1, 2020

Public Visitation:    5 - 7 PM (streaming 6 to 7 pm)

Pridgen Funeral Home Chapel

Friday, October 2, 2020

Mass of Christian Burial:   12 Noon

St. Joseph Catholic Church

2020 St. Joseph Dr.

Upper Marlboro,MD 20774

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