[List] Obituary: Blanche (Mrs. Tom) Irby

[Cecil Stokes]

*Blanche Irby*, 83, of Huntsville and Madison, passed away Monday, May 
24, 2021.

Born in Vicksburg, MS to John Joseph and Mabel Harris Loviza, Blanche 
graduated from St. Francis Xavier Catholic School in Vicksburg. 
Education was invaluable to her, and she returned to school as an adult 
to earn a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Theology from 
Athens State College. She continued to soak up life as a forever 
student. With a heart of gold, Blanche never knew a stranger and 
radiated love and compassion. She saw the good in everything and 
everyone and treated each day as a gift. She was a volunteer at Meals on 
Wheels and a devoted member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Her 
loved ones believe she had a "direct line to God," as she was a true 
prayer warrior for everyone she knew. Fittingly, two priests were drawn 
to her side to deliver her last rites. She always wanted to meet God, 
and those who knew her find peace in knowing she now rests in His embrace.

Blanche is survived by her husband of 62 years, Thomas "Tom" Irby, with 
whom she built a life of laughter, love, travel, and plenty of dancing. 
Their romance sparked at school dances, and they married on April 12, 
1959. At every wedding, she and Tom stole the dance floor with their 
light feet and loving gaze. They celebrated two vow renewals and served 
as pillars of love and devotion for their family and friends. Marriage 
to Tom was an adventure Blanche bravely embraced. She willingly tried 
new things, such as hiking, backpacking, snow skiing, sailing and scuba 
diving. She water skied until age 70 - a passion she and Tom passed down 
to their children and grandchildren. As a patron of the arts, she 
enjoyed reading, weaving and theatergoing, especially to Fantasy 
Playhouse with her grandchildren. Blanche was preceded in death by her 
parents; and two of her siblings, Dorothy Faye Vedros (Phillip) and John 
William Loviza (Emily).

A beloved mother, sister and grandmother, she leaves behind children, 
Lisa Derasaugh (David), Peter Irby (Yvonne), Thomas "Griff" Irby (Anna) 
and Christie Burgess (Ron); siblings, Joseph Loviza (Glenda) and Myrtle 
Curro Alvarado (Bobby); and grandchildren, Andrew, Jessica (Tom), Ryan, 
Meagan, Rachael, Grant, Grace, Zachary and Brandon. She lives on in 
their loving memory and will be deeply missed.

Visitation will be from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 27, 2021, at St. 
John the Baptist Catholic Church in Madison, AL. The funeral service 
will begin at 2:00 p.m. and be officiated by Father Bryan K Lowe, Pastor.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Madison Senior Center 
Nutrition and Meal Program, 1282 Hughes Road, Madison, AL 35758.



To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store 
<https://sympathy.legacy.com/en-us/funeral-flowers/name/blanche-irby-funeral-flowers/p198785350/?affiliateId=29&pm=240>. 

Published in The Huntsville Times from May 25 to May 26, 2021.
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