Adeline Isabel Irace

Adeline “Dina” Irace passed away peacefully on October 11, 2024, at 75 State Street, three weeks short of her 102nd birthday. Dina was the daughter of Italian immigrants. She was born and grew up in her beloved Portland. After graduating from Portland High School and Gorham Normal School where she earned a B.A. in education, she taught at a one-room schoolhouse on Cliff Island. In 1944, Dina met John Irace, an Italian submariner who was stationed in Casco Bay. The extraordinary story of their courtship and marriage is the stuff of Hollywood movies. Their romance was featured in Portland Monthly Magazine several decades ago. John and Dina raised four children while living on Munjoy Hill in their home on the Eastern Promenade. Together, they owned and operated Montebello Seafood Co, a wholesale and retail family operation located on Commercial Street. In her spare time, she was a substitute teacher, a realtor, an average bowler, a member of the Portland Toastmistress Club, first mate on the Dina III, and a violinist. Dina was an aspiring entrepreneur and pursued numerous unique business ventures, none of which reached IPO status. Dina was a devoted mother and instilled in her children all the lessons she learned from her mother during the depression. Dina was a renowned penny-pincher, and it was said of her that she “not only pinched pennies, she tortured them.” Dina had a unique personality and an unusual sense of humor. All who knew her were familiar with her many favorite sayings, such as “Global warming is coming and it’s not so hot”, and “I had my day in the sun; now it’s in the shade.” She was known to be a very blunt communicator, verbalizing what others were too timid to say. Although this trait was shocking to some, it was endearing to others. Either way, Dina possessed a heart of gold for family and strangers alike, giving freely of her time, energy, resources, and advice. She was a communicant of St. Peter’s Church in Portland and Holy Martyrs Catholic Church in Falmouth. She and her husband made their faith come alive visiting many Catholic shrines all over the world and passing this faith on to their children. Dina is predeceased by her husband of 68 years, and is survived by four children: Domenic, Mary and her husband Richard Burke, Anthony and his wife Mary, Joanne and her husband Barry Tibbetts. She has eleven grandchildren: John, Joe, Rick, Ann, Nathan, Andrea, Christina, Michael, Mary, Anna, Regina, and eleven great-grandchildren. The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the exceptional staff of 75 State Street. Their love and compassionate care for her over the past eight years was extraordinary beyond measure. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10am on Monday, October 21, 2024, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 72 Federal St, Portland. Interment to follow at Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. Arrangements are under the direction of Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home. To view Dina’s memorial page or to leave a condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations in Dina’s memory to 75 State Street, Portland, ME, 04101 or online at 75statestreet.org/support.