WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Irene (Tworig) McHarg passed away in the early morning of January 17, 2019. A native of Williamstown and a former resident of Adams, Irene died at North Adams Commons from Alzheimer’s Disease. She was 85 years old.

Irene was born in North Adams on October 1, 1933, the daughter of the late Stanley and Bernice Tworig of Williamstown. Irene attended schools in Williamstown and graduated from Williamstown High School with the class of 1952.  She went on to complete her nursing education including training as a Nurse Anesthetist.  

"Mac" (Francis McHarg), Irene’s beloved husband and former golf pro at Fort Devens, passed away November 1, 1988. 

Irene had a lifelong career as an R.N. , beginning as an operating room nurse at North Adams Hospital. She later worked at Burbank and Leominster hospitals and retired as a Nurse with the Cataract and Laser Center in Adams at the age of 80.

Irene was a skilled and passionate golfer; in 1949 she played with the Williamstown High School Golf team – the first and only woman on that team at that time.  Her golf accolades were many, including qualifying for the U.S. Ladies' Amateur Tournament.  She held the women;s course record at Taconic Golf Club for many, many years, proud of having done so with play from the men's tee.

She was a champion of four-legged fur babies, and provided loving homes for a multitude of dogs over the years. She was most fond of long-haired miniature dachshunds, and those that she raised as her "children" were always blessed with names from the game of golf.  She leaves behind her cherished "Nibs," now under the adoptive care of her loving nephew Jim.

Irene took great pleasure watching the birds from her window and made sure they were well-cared for at all times. Her generosity was limitless and she gave to causes, friends, and family far more than she ever received throughout the years.  

Irene was predeceased by her parents; husband; brother Robert, who passed away as a very young child; her sisters Joan (Tworig) Jezyk, Shirley Tworig, and Dorothy (Tworig) Lamont;  and her younger brother Richard Tworig of North Adams. Stephen Tworig, her very special nephew who watched over her with Jim, died in October 2017. 

She is survived by her older brother, Stanley "Spike" Tworig of Stamford, Vt.; her sister-in-law Rosalie Tworig; Pamela Tworig, Stephen’s wife who picked up where Steve left off, making sure Irene was well-cared for; nieces Susan (Tworig) Cross and her husband Cork Cross, and Michelle (Tworig) Nolet and her husband Joe; and nephews Jim Tworig and his wife Becky, John Tworig and Kim, Richard Tworig and his wife Lisa, and David Lamont and his wife Christie. She also leaves behind many great-nieces and nephews, and her great-great niece Julianna Pecor, with whom she had a very special bond.

Funeral notice: There are no calling hours at Irene's request and she will be buried with her immediate family in attendance. The greatest tribute one can give to Irene is to pay it forward. Donations can be made to Hospice of Northern Berkshire or the Berkshire Humane Society through the Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, 74 Marshall St. North Adams, Mass.