CAPE ST. CLAIR, Maryland — Irene Brooks Williams, 95 years old of Cape St. Claire, Maryland, loving wife of Kenneth Williams and mother to David and Kent, passed away on the morning August 19, 2024, after a severe illness.

Irenee Brooks was born on July 3, 1929, to Michael and Hilma (Erickson) Brooks in Thomaston, Maine. Later Irenee later “Americanized” her name to Irene. Her parents had immigrated from Finland and as a farming family during the Great Depression era and the World War II rationing time, the 9 Brooks’ children (1 had died during infancy) learned the value of work, ingenuity and living on limited means. After graduating from High School, Irene went on to study at the University of Maine where she met Kenneth Williams. She had also been a runner up in the Miss Maine Beauty pageant.

Later she contracted Polio and had to be hospitalized for an extended time. Her brothers had served in World War II.

Tauno, her oldest brother, who held a special place in her heart, had served in the Army Air Corps and the Air Force also served during the Korean War where, during a night intruder mission he was shot down over North Korea in 1952.

In 1952 Irene met Kenneth Williams. Kenneth and Irene were married December 27, 1953, in Thomaston, Maine. Ken had been in the Army ROTC while at the University of Maine. So, after his graduation he started active duty, with Ken and Irene moving to various bases throughout the United States and in Germany. Their two sons were born at Army hospitals, with David being born in Massachusetts and Kent Williams born in Germany during their time there. While being assigned to Fort Meade Ken transitioned to Army reserve status and began working for NSA and the family settled in the Laurel and Bowie area until 1968 when Ken was transferred to Cheltenham, England, where the family lived for 3 years.

Upon returning to the United States the family moved to northern Baltimore city for several years so that the boys could continue their high school education. In 1975 the family moved to Cape St. Claire, Maryland. Irene continued to live there until 2024, with Kenneth passing away from Multiple Myeloma in 2003 just 7 months shy of their 50th wedding anniversary.

Besides being Ken’s loving wife, a mother to David and Kent and a homemaker, Irene followed many other paths in her life. She did further studies at the University of Maryland, and also became a Real Estate Agent and Broker. Later she volunteered with the Anne Arundel General Hospital Auxiliary. In the late 1970s both Ken and Irene rededicated themselves to Christ and became active volunteers with the Gideons and the Billy Graham ministries for many years.

She is survived by her two children – David and Debra Williams of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and Kent and Diann Williams of Sykesville, Maryland; grandsons Charles Williams and his wife Kathleen and Hannah, her Great Granddaughter of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Jonathan Williams and his fiancée Nicole Koontz of Greensboro, North Carolina.

Irene is also survived by her brothers Raynold and Jean Brooks in South Carolina, Lawrence Brooks of Cushing, Maine; Michael and Dianne Brooks of Warren, Maine; and her sisters Eleanor Trump of Florida; Florine Simmons of Florida; sister-in-law Betty Williams and many nieces, nephews and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Irene is predeceased by her husband, Kenneth Williams; parents Michael and Hilma Brooks; her brothers Tauno Brooks, Karl Brooks; a sister, Gloria Brooks; brother-in-law Burton Williams; brother-in-law Ronald Trump; and sister-in-law Kay Brooks.

A viewing will be held Monday, August 26, from 1-3 and 5-7 p.m., at the Barranco Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park, MD 21146. 

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, August 27, at 10:30 a.m., at the Cape St. Claire United Methodist Church, 855 Chestnut Tree Dr., Annapolis, MD 21409.

Interment will be held at a later date, at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery, 1122 Sunrise Beach Road, Crownsville, MD 21032.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Billy Graham Association or the Gideons International, organizations that Irene strongly supported.