Irene Fitzpatrick May 28, 1944 - May 9, 2020

New Richmond, Ohio – Irene Fitzpatrick, 75, passed away peacefully at home on May 9, 2020, surrounded by family.  Born in Covington, Kentucky, on May 28, 1944 to Irene (Gladwish) Fitzpatrick and the late Garrett B. Fitzpatrick, Jr.  Irene graduated from Wm. Henry Harrison High School in Harrison, Ohio, in 1963 and attended Morehead State College before leaving to marry and raise her family.  In 1987, Irene married second husband, Clifford Brafford and worked part-time as a pari-mutuel clerk at Turfway Park until 2018 when diagnosed with cancer.  Irene’s passion was growing things – plants, flowers & trees – spending many days in the garden from sun up to sun down.  Having had a pet pig during childhood and later in life, Irene also became a collector of all things pig related.  Even more than pigs, Irene loved the color GREEN, wearing only green fingernail polish and green clothing as often as possible.  Most of all, Irene loved her family and friends. Irene was kind, loving and giving with a dash of sass and nothing would bring that out faster than seeing a friend being treated unfairly. Irene was preceded in death by her daughter Angela Kelly Gilmer, her father and five brothers: Randy, James, Patrick, John & Jerry.  Irene is survived by her life-partner: Clifford Brafford, her children: Kathy Lou Peace, Maria Stratman, David Smith (Donna) & Marta Ridgell (Tim) and nine grandchildren:  Matthew (Gracie), Katey & Bryan Peace, Tara Kelly & Dante Gilmer, Kelsey & Kristin Stratman and Savannah & Jarrett Smith.  Irene is also survived by siblings: Colleen Fitzpatrick (Joan), Robert Fitzpatrick (Jane), Kathy Nishihira (Ron) and Michael Fitzpatrick (Debbie) as well as a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and dear friends.  Details of Memorial Service & Celebration of Irene’s Life are pending, to be announced at a later date.  Memorial gifts may be made to Pets In Need of Greater Cincinnati, 520 W. Wyoming Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45215 (www.PINCincinnati.org/donate) or to the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (Stjudes.org/donate).