Irene L. LABONTE

PEORIA, ARIZ. -- Irene L. (Labonte) Meuse, 79, of 9910 W. Palmeras Drive, Sun City, died at Sun Health Hospice Sunday, April 3, 2005, after a brief battle with cancer. She was the wife of Richard W Meuse. Born in New Bedford, Mass., she was the daughter of the late Alice and Albert Labonte. She lived in Gardner, Mass., for 40 years after her marriage to Raymond LeBlanc and her later marriage to Mr. Meuse of Athol, Mass. Mrs. Meuse was a stitcher at Fountain Brothers and later was a quality control technician at Digital Equipment Corp. until she retired in 1986. After retirement, Mr. and Mrs. Meuse moved to Sun City, where they lived 18 years. Mrs. Meuse had a joy for life and enjoyed giving, whether it was something she handcrafted or baked. She was an avid bingo player and enjoyed going to Laughlin, Nev. Survivors include two daughters, Marcia P. Falke of York, Pa., and Norma J. Ruckey of Manchester, Conn.; a son, Russell R. LeBlanc of Gardner; a sister, Rhea Robert of East Freetown, Mass.; two brothers, Roland Labonte of Wareham, Mass., and Arthur Labonte of New Bedford; two stepchildren, Brenda Frenette and Danny Meuse, both of Athol; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She was the sister of the late Claire O'Neil. Services will be held in May in Gardner; burial will be in Winchendon Veterans Cemetery.