Irene Rose Woodworth Shephard September 18, 1938 – November 7, 2016

The funeral will be Friday, November 18th at 1 pm at the Cathedral of the Annunciation, 425 W. Magnolia St. Stockton, CA 95203. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Stockton/San Joaquin Emergency Food Bank at: 7 W. Scott Ave, Stockton CA, 95203, or the ministry endowment of the Cathedral of the Annunciation, 425 W. Magnolia, Stockton, CA 95203
Irene Rose Woodworth Shephard, 78, passed away on the morning of Nov. 7, 2016. She died at home peacefully and surrounded by her family. Born September 18th, 1938, in Gilroy, California, she was a long-standing member of the Stockton community, along with her husband of 53 years, Thomas J. Shephard Sr. Born to Oliver Ansel Woodworth Sr. and Rosa Katherine Baer Woodworth, Irene attended Saint Mary School and then Gilroy High School before going on to San Jose State University where she received an undergraduate degree in mathematics and accounting, and a master’s degree in education. She was the only female in the accounting program at the time, and went into education when told no accounting firm would hire her since she was a woman. Irene went on to do pre-doctoral work, ultimately completing a program in school psychology at the University of the Pacific. She first taught mathematics at Saratoga High School in Santa Clara County before moving to Stockton in 1962. Irene then worked as a guidance counselor at Lincoln High School. There, she worked on a new method of scheduling students and began the scholarship program. Irene met her husband Tom, a partner in the Stockton law firm Neumiller & Beardslee, and they married in 1963.Irene went to work for the Stockton Unified School District as a school psychologist and then joined the San Joaquin County Office of Education as a school psychologist for 20 years serving schools across the entire county. Irene retired after the birth of her second grandchild.Irene loved children. Her interests were her own children and grandchildren, and all children. She was active for many years as the community leader for a large 4-H club. She served the Foster Grandparent organization for several years including a stint as president. As a parishioner of the Cathedral of the Annunciation, she took communion to homes and hospitals and served on the finance council. She also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities. Keeping ties with her college friends, she served on the board of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority for many years. She was the family organizer and caregiver to her family, parents, in-laws, and children, and doted on her own grandchildren, all seven of them. Knowing the importance of quality family time, she often organized backpacking trips and other family ventures. She and Tom hosted parties at their home in Stockton for charitable and political events as well as many large family gatherings. Everyone who knew Irene knew of her large Thanksgiving parties. Irene is survived by her spouse, Tom, children Katherine Margaret Shephard Weiner (Jon Randolph Weiner), Thomas Joseph Shephard Jr. (Angela Rene Seitz), Clarice Alberta Shephard, Marjorie Irene Shephard Hart (Gordon Edward Hart); seven grandchildren: Jon Randolph Weiner Jr., Aaron Thomas Weiner, Gillian Thomasine Hart, Ryan Gordon Merrill Hart, Benjamin Thomas Hart, Helen Rose Shephard and Peter Thomas Shephard. She is also survived by; her siblings, Oliver Ansel Woodworth, Alberta Woodworth Samuelson and John Baer Woodworth. Irene was the youngest of the four. She was pre-deceased by her parents.
Her family thanks the medical staffs of the Univ. of California-San Francisco, the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, Hospice of San Joaquin and Dr. Maynard Lang, her primary care doctor of over 40 years. Irene twice battled cancer and survived for seven years with their help.