Mrs. Irene C. Belch

Mrs. Irene C. (Gutowski) Belch, 92, of Adams, died Friday evening, July 11, 2025 at North Adams Regional Hospital, with her two loving sons by her side. She was born in Adams on June 7, 1933, the third daughter of Charles and Katherine (Lenartowicz) Gutowski. She attended St. Stanislaus Kostka School and graduated from the former Adams High School with the Class of 1950. In August of 1955, at age 22, she was crowned Queen of the Adams Trade Show. Shortly before graduation, she worked as an assistant to Dr. Francis Gospodarek of Adams. Shortly after, she was accepted into the 2-year General Electric Drafting Training Program. She then began working as a draftsman in the General Electric Large Transformer drafting department. She met her husband, Joseph L. Belch, while working at GE. They were married on September 3, 1955. Mr. Belch died on June 4, 2016. She left her job at GE to raise her 3 beloved sons. Later, she worked as an assistant clerk for the Adams Fire District for several years. Irene was a many-faceted lady. She was a very active person and had many friends. She was an avid reader and especially like reading Russian history; her favorite book was Tolstoy’s Anna Kerenina. She always looked forward to monthly issues of Popular Science and Popular Mechanics. Irene loved to play golf, especially local tournament golf. She was Club Ladies Champion at Skyline CC in 1969 and at Forest Park CC in 1974. She was a member of Wahconah CC for 30 years. She had a “Hole-in-One” at Taconic CC, Wahconah CC and Forest Park CC. She was a Golden Varsity volunteer at C.T. Plunkett Elementary School, working in the kindergarten, where she was loved by the children and kept in touch for many years with many of the boys and girls even after their high school graduation. She was a communicant of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Adams. She is survived by two sons, Joseph J. Belch and his wife Lisa of Allison Park, PA and Christopher J. Belch of Adams, five grandchildren- Mitchell, Christie, Matthew, Michael and Christo Belch, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her son, Charles J. Belch, and by her two sisters, Lillian Piwko and Melanie Anton. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 16th at 10:00 AM in St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Adams. Burial will follow in St. Stanislaus Cemetery. Calling hours in the PACIOREK FUNERAL HOME, 13 Hoosac St. Adams, are Tuesday from 6 to 8 PM. The family requests that no flowers be sent, and that donations in Irene’s memory may be made to St. Stanislaus School, 108 Summer St. Adams, MA 01220, or to the SSK Preservation Fund, PO Box 328, Adams, MA 01220. To leave a message of condolence, or for directions, please go online to www.paciorekfuneral.com

Mrs. Irene C. Belch

June 7, 1933 - July 11, 2025