Irene Helen Pacheco, 91, Founded Reliable Market

Irene Helen (Santos) Pacheco, 91, of Oak Bluffs died Sunday, Oct. 23, at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Mrs. Pacheco was the wife of Armando (Eddie) Pacheco, who died in 1965. Born in Newport, R.I., on June 6, 1914, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Mary (Soares) Santos.

Mrs. Pacheco was a graduate of Rogers High School in Newport, Class of 1937. She worked in her father's grocery store, the former Santos Market, in Newport, where she met her husband. He was the Coca-Cola delivery man in that area.

The couple married in 1946 and lived a short time in Connecticut before moving in 1947 to Oak Bluffs, where they opened a grocery store on Circuit avenue. At that time there were at least five grocery stores on the street, but only Reliable Market remains today.

Mrs. Pacheco was there daily even after her son, Bob, took over upon her husband's death. In more recent years she was known for wearing white gloves to protect the sensitive skin on her hands from small cuts while handling the paper bags. As she approached her nineties she continued to go to the store most days, where she would greet friends and customers.

Mrs. Pacheco was a communicant of Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Oak Bluffs. She sang in the choir there when she came to the Island, and enjoyed bowling as well.

She is survived by her son, Robert Pacheco, two grandchildren, Ed Pacheco of Oak Bluffs and Jen Freeman of Edgartown, a great-grandchild, Kaitlyn Freeman, and two sisters from her large family.

Her funeral was held Friday, Oct. 28, with a Mass at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Oak Bluffs. Interment was at the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Oak Bluffs.

Memorial donations may be made to the Irene H. Pacheco Celebration of Life Fund, c/o Edgartown National Bank, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.