Irene Marie (Dziekan) Roccapriore, 82, our beloved Mother, died peacefully Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at Meriden Center in Meriden. Born February 28, 1929 in New Britain, she was the daughter of the late Julia (Chuculski) and Stanley Dziekan. Irene graduated from New Britain High School in the class of 1946. She went on to study nursing at the Meriden Nursing School and graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1949. For many years she was employed by Meriden Hospital and interned at Norwich Psychiatric Hospital. In 1994, she retired from Meriden Nursing Home, now known as Meriden Center, after serving 15 years as a Registered Nurse and Supervisor on the north wing. Following her retirement, Irene spent the next 6 years working par Diem there until 2001. Irene served in a bevy of church and community services. 1976 marked the beginning of a 35 year commitment that Irene took part in with the Nurses Health Study through Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital receiving numerous awards and certificates for her dedication and personal contributions. She was a member of the Meriden Council of Catholic Women, a member of the Columbiettes Auxiliary, President and Co-chair for the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Society, and volunteered for Blood Bank at the Red Cross. She was recognized and awarded for her continual financial and volunteer support of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the American Heart Association throughout her years. She is survived by her loving sister Gertrude E. Dziekan of Bristol (Plainville). She had seven children, the first born (Irene) died at birth in 1952. She is also survived by her six children: Sharon Tompkins of Meriden, Shirl Roccapriore and her wife Dot Caruso of Cape Cod, MA, Barbara Horbacewicz and her husband Christopher of Meriden, Gerard A. Roccapriore of Meriden, Ann Flower and her husband Tim of Burlington, and Steven Roccapriore and his wife Debbie of Durham. Also, seven grandchildren: Daniel Tompkins of Waco, TX, Taylor and Kelsea Roccapriore, Julia and Cameron Flower, Luc and Michael Roccapriore, and one great grandchild, Christopher Tompkins. On behalf of the Roccapriore family, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of the medical staff at Hartford Hospital's 'Harry and Helen Gray Cancer Center' and the entire staff who cared for our mother at Meriden Center.