Irene Jester Annos, 74, of Wilmington, Delaware passed away peacefully surrounded by family on October 14, 2022, after a fearless and courageous years-long battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in South Philadelphia, she was the only child of the late Theodore R. and Mary (Carucci) Jester, who raised Irene on Woodlawn Avenue in Wilmington among many loving aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Irene attended St. Thomas the Apostle Elementary School and graduated from Corpus Christi High School in 1965. She went on to work for DuPont in its fabrics and finishes department for almost 10 years. After starting a family and creating a home, Irene obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware in 1988, where she graduated cum laude and was a member of the Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society. Irene managed the family legal practice for several years and enjoyed spending her downtime in Bethany and Lewes beaches. She loved hosting Christmas Eve dinner, UD football games, Disney World, Democrats, Broadway musicals, and the South Philly String Band. But most of all, Irene was fiercely dedicated to and immensely proud of her family, and her greatest joy came when her family was all together.
Irene’s priority in life was ensuring the happiness of her loved ones and instilling in them the importance of togetherness. She successfully accomplished this through her endless planning and organizing of numerous and frequent gatherings, outings, and vacations where all were welcome with open and loving arms. The family will continue this tradition in true Irene style to honor her eternal love of family and friends.
Irene is survived by her husband of 50 years, William Annos; daughter Constance Annos Dorsney and son-in-law Kenneth Laurence Dorsney of Wilmington, Delaware; son Theodore William Annos and daughter-in-law Kerry Corrigan Annos of Charlottesville, Virginia; beloved grandchildren Tyler Vincent Dorsney, Augusta Irene Dorsney, Nadine Elizabeth Annos, and Emmalene Mae Annos; and many cherished Carucci and Jester cousins. In addition to her parents, Irene was preceded in death by her very special uncle, Rocco Anthony Carucci.
Services will be held on Saturday, October 29, 2022 at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 301 North Bancroft Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19805. Visitation will be from 9:00 - 10:15 a.m. and a Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. Entombment will immediately follow at Cathedral Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, memorial donations may be made in Irene’s name to Boston Children’s Hospital for AVM Research, Attn: Gift Services, 401 Park Drive, Suite 602, Boston, Massachusetts 02215 or online at giving.childrenshospital.org.
