Irene K. Bry

Irene Kazokas Bry, 85, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 13, 2023, at her home in Sandpoint.  

Born in Concord, Massachusetts on February 24, 1938, she is the daughter of the late William and Jennie Kazokas. She is the mother of Francis Louis Bry, Sagle, Idaho; Lisa Jennie Bry, Sandpoint, Idaho; Thomas Charles Bry, Sagle, Idaho; and William James Bry, Sandpoint, Idaho. She is the grandmother of William Andrew Knipe and Kyle Bry. She is the great grandmother to Stella Irene Knipe, Lucas Wu and Leo Wu. She has numerous nieces and nephews residing all across the country.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Francis Louis Bry; her daughter, Laura Felicia Bry; her parents, William and Jennie Kazokas; her siblings, Anne Kazokas Baker and James Kazokas.

She graduated from Acton-Boxboro High School in 1956. Attended Simmons College in Massachusetts and was flight attendant for North Eastern Airlines before getting married in 1960 to Francis Louis Bry. Irene was the proud mother of five children who she raised on her own after her husband passed away in 1970. Irene lived in Massachusetts until she relocated to Seattle, Washington, in 1989, eventually settling in Sandpoint in 1995 with her daughter Laura and grandson Will.

She had owned, and operated, a trucking company in Massachusetts prior to moving West. While living in Seattle she helped her daughter Laura raise her son William, and was briefly a CNA, newspaper owner and worked retail at Macys. In 1994, Irene was inducted into the Acton-Boxboro High School Sports Hall of Fame for Field Hockey, Basketball and Softball.

Irene loved reading, traveling and gardening and was known locally as "Irene The Tomato Lady" while working with her son Tom at his farm stand, but her greatest joy came from caring and spending time with her childen, their friends and her nieces and nephews. Irene loved Sandpoint and its people. Those who knew her well called her "Mama Bry". She kept a diary for decades documenting her daily activities and the weather. She also spent countless hours writing and cataloging short inspirational sayings. She had notebooks full of quotes and her own original writings. She wrote a unpublished book called "Stuff we know but forget sometimes". She gave a copy to each of her children. The last two pages read: "WORRY....about nothing" and WRITE....your own story

A celebration of her life will be held September 10, 2023 in Sagle Idaho.

Donations and flowers can be sent to Lisa J. Bry, 1521 Larch Street, Sandpoint, ID 83864.