Irene D. Galiley Merker

Middletown, RI - Irene D. Galiley Merker, 97, of 600 Valley Road, Middletown, RI, formerly of 174 Boulevard, Middletown, RI, died Friday, March 14, 2008 at the John Clarke Nursing Center in Middletown. She was the wife of the late John E. Merker.Born in Shamokin, PA on September 10, 1910, she was the daughter of the late Stanaslaus and Antonia Poplaskie Galiley. Five brothers and two sisters predeceased her.Mrs. Merker received her nursing degree from the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, her masters degree from Simmons College and further training at Harvard. She served as a nurse in the US Navy and was a stationed aboard the hospital ship Solace when Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941. Later, she became Supervisor of the Providence District Nursing Association.She was a member of St. Lucys Church in Middletown, the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, the Navy Nurse Corp Retirees and AARP. She was commended by the Middletown Tree Commission for her volunteer work at Paradise Park and was recognized for maintaining the grounds at the Town Hall.She is survived by nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, March 17, 2008 at 9 am in St. Lucys Church, 909 West Main Road in Middletown. Burial will be in Shamokin, PA.Donations in her memory may be made to St. Lucys Church, Building Fund, 909 West Main Road, Middletown, RI 02842 or to the Middletown Rescue Wagon Fund, 239 Wyatt Road, Middletown, RI 02842.