Irene Major Rand (1905-1962)
Irene was a registered nurse at Mercy Hospital in Auburn. She also worked for awhile at Wassaic State School for the Mentally Retarded near Hyde Park, New York, until her marriage to Roy Rand of Syracuse in 1938.

I don't remember her too well and am not sure what caused her death at such an early age (57), though she may have been diabetic. Like her mother (if I can judge by photographs), Irene seemed to age overnight, and in her later years bore little resemblance to the quirky kid sister who tried to outmug my father is several childhood pictures.

What follows is a story from the Amena (NY) Harlem Valley Times of June 2, 1938, shortly after Irene married Roy Rand and was about to leave the Wassaic hospital:

Wassaic State School

SURPRISE SHOWER FOR
MRS. RAND THURSDAY NIGHT

Mrs. Irene Major Rand was pleasantly surprised on Tuesday evening by a miscellaneous shower given by her friends. The party was held in the staff meeting room of the hospital building and was attended by about 18 guests.

Among those present were: Mrs. Edna Michaels, Mrs. Gertrude Evans, Mrs. Mae Ferris, Mrs. Margaret Paye, Mrs. Marion Warwick, Mrs. Elmer Middlemast, Mrs. Anne Wilson and the Misses Ann Farrell, Jean Nichols, Agnes Veyrey, Margaret Hawley, Nellie Innoent, Caroline Machado, Jennie Iappolo, Mary Tulacz and Miss Bennett.

The guests enjoyed cards, and refreshment were served. The bride will leave the institution in the middle of June to rseside in Syracuse, where Mr. Rand’s business is located.