Irene E. (Kuch) Hood

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. 

Irene Elsa (Kuch) Hood, 89, of Pelham, NH, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 10, 2025, in Derry, NH. 

She was predeceased by two of her ‘favorites’: her beloved husband Michael Hood (September 2018) and her loving sister Wilma Jordan (January 2023). 

Irene is survived by her daughter Sonja Anna Hood, her son-in-law Chris Wilkins, and her grandson Maddox Wilkins.

Born in Rüppurr, Germany in 1936, Irene was the youngest of four children. 

She dedicated over four decades to her work in the laboratory at St. John Hospital in Lowell, MA, where she formed lifelong friendships—many of whom remained close through her final days.

Irene loved classical and hymnal music, and she adored any choir. A trip to Boston wasn’t complete without the Tuesday concert at King’s Chapel. She was an ardent reader of newspapers and all types of books – The Good Earth by Pearl S Buck being her favorite. She loved animals and nature, and she got great pleasure from watching the wildlife that congregated around her home on Little Island Pond in Pelham, NH. When she wasn’t home, Irene loved to travel, especially to Europe with many trips to Germany to visit her sister and cousins. 

Though not a regular churchgoer, she was deeply spiritual. She admired Pope John Paul II, and for her daughter Sonja’s 30th birthday, they traveled to Rome to see him. Remarkably, Irene had met him decades earlier, before his papacy, at several poetry readings in Boston.

Irene was a highly skilled knitter and passed her love for the fiber arts on to her daughter Sonja. She built a life rooted in compassion, curiosity, and quiet strength. She was always quick to engage with her charm and wit, and she loved to tell a story.

The family would like to extend their deepest thanks to the many individuals and organizations who supported Irene during the last year and a half of her life. This includes Jeanne and the volunteers at Greater Salem Caregivers; Samantha and her wonderful team at Bee Helpful for Seniors, especially Veronica, who became a beloved friend; Gary at the Hobbs Community Center in Pelham; and Carolyn along with her dedicated staff at the Derry Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

The family also wishes to acknowledge the family and friends who were with Irene in her final days: Uncle Richard, Donna and Dawn, Uncle Andy, Holy and Taylor, Dawn-Marie, her cherished neighbor and friend Brian, Nancy and the Flaherty’s, Francy and Debbie and the lab ladies, Alexis, and Christine, whose loving support meant so much to both Irene and Sonja.

The service will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 3PM at the First Congregational Church, 3 Main St, Pelham, NH 03076. E-condolences and directions at www.pelhamfuneralhome.com. A reception will follow with coffee, refreshments and finger foods. Flowers can be sent (between 11 - 2PM on Saturday) to the Pelham Funeral Home, 11 Nashua Rd, Pelham, NH 03076 (www.pelhamfuneralhome.com). Donations can be made to the Greater Salem Caregivers - https://salemcare.org/. Arrangements by the PELHAM FUNERAL HOME – PELHAM – NH – (603) 635-3333.

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