Irene A. Mack, 93 NAPLES, Fla. -- Mrs. Irene A. Mack, formerly of Salem, Mass., and Portland, passed away peacefully in her home in Naples, Fla., on Sept. 15, 2013. Mrs. Mack was born on April 17, 1920, in Salem, Mass. She was the oldest of three children born to Nathan and Lillian Tarlow (Collier). She was predeceased by her younger sister, Murial (Mookie) Freedman of Swampscott, Mass., and her younger brother, Lawrence (Larry) Tarlow of Marblehead, Mass. She graduated from Burdette Business College where she learned bookkeeping and other office management skills. Irene was an integral part of the Salem-Lynn-Peabody-Swampscott Jewish community, and she and her friends used to take the bus to Old Orchard Beach on weekends for dances. It was there that she met her late-husband Phillip Mack, of Portland. They were married on Nov. 10, 1946, and had three children, Martin Mack of Bonita Springs, Fla., Anita Mason of Woburn, Mass., and Murray Mack of Vienna, Va.; as well as three grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Mack lived in Portland until 1976 when they became 'snowbirds,' moving back and forth from Naples to Portland until they decided to live in Naples permanently. Mr. and Mrs. Mack were married for 56 years. In addition to her raising her children, Mrs. Mack worked as a bookkeeper for All State Home Improvement Corporation, Guardian Finance and Loan Company, and the Law Offices of Thompson, Willard, Smith, and MacNabough during her career. Her children, who will miss their mother dearly, described her as 'a force of nature,' 'the straw that stirred the drink,' and the 'Captain of her own ship.' Mrs. Mack had an incredible collection of shells from Sanibel and Captiva Islands in Florida, and she enjoyed playing bridge, knitting, reading, giving advice, and making cookies, some of which were intended for her children's friends rather than for her own family. She begrudgingly gave up her role as a back seat driver when her husband died and she had to actually use the drivers' license she had been carrying around for years. The truth of the matter was that Irene Mack was a wonderful, caring woman and was very proud of herself, her heritage, and her children. She remained sharp to the very end and even completed her own taxes last April. But she was ready to move on and indicated that 'she had a long run with no regrets.' Irene's grandchildren, Adam Mason, Sarah (Mason) Long, and Jonathan Mack will lovingly remember her. A service in Florida has taken place in her memory. Donations in her name should be made either to the Temple Beth El or to the Cedars retirement community, both in Portland.