Deirdre Gordon Ivain

Deirdre Conception (Gordon) Ivain, of Torrington CT, passed away peacefully on Saturday March 23, 2024.  She was born in Mohill Village, County Leitrim, Ireland on December 7, 1932, the daughter of Thomas & Margaret Reynolds Gordon to a large family.  

She was educated at Mercy Convent, Mohill, Loreto Convent, Kilkenny, and the London School of Nursing in London England.  Growing up in a small village, she enjoyed the rural upbringing before moving to London where she spent five years living and exploring a big city of theatres, stores, dance halls, historical landmarks, parks, zoos, cathedrals, abbeys, and palaces of the Royal Family.   She traveled to America on the RMS Queen Elizabeth Ocean Liner and resided with relatives in New York City and visited her sister Mary in Torrington CT often.  She eventually relocated to Torrington and worked in various jobs at Torrington National Bank, Mertz Company and Torrington Building Company.  

Deirdre met the love of her life, Stephen, on her travels to Torrington and they married in 1958.  They built and resided in their Westside Road home for the remainder of their lives, across from the Ivain family farm. She loved Torrington and all the people.  She especially enjoyed all her neighbors and often mentioned they felt like her family.  

Together she and her husband enjoyed entertaining, wonderful family vacations, going to many events and hosting big family holiday dinners.  They had four children, Thomas, Sheila, Robert and Stephen.  She is preceded in death by an infant son Thomas, her husband Stephen and recently her daughter, Sheila. She leaves her son Stephen and wife Philippa Howe Ivain of Torrington; their children Phoebe, Joshua and Michael; her son Robert and wife Madhvi Ivain of Mauritius, and his child Deirdre; and as well as many relatives in Connecticut, US, Ireland, Mauritius and many others overseas. 

She will be remembered for raising her children as a single parent after the premature death of her husband, in 1975, and later, for “Grandmothering” her grandchildren Phoebe, Joshua and Michael.  She loved storytelling and would make frequent trips to the local library with her grandchildren where she would often be found surrounded by children who were mesmerized by her animated reading.  She also had a fondness for playing board games of all kinds.   

Calling hours will be held from 9:00 to 10:00 am on Friday, April 5^th at the Cook Funeral Home on 82 Litchfield St. in Torrington.  The Divine Liturgy of Resurrection will be held at 10:30 am at Saint Maron’s Church, 613 Main Street, Torrington.  Burial will follow at New Saint Francis Cemetery, Torrington. 

Memorial donations can be made in Deirdre’s name to the Torrington Historical Society, or a charity of your choice.  Donate to the Historical Society online at info@torringtonhistoricalsociety.org or mail to Torrington Historical Society, 192 Main Street, Torrington CT 06790.