Irene Rhodes Gillespie passed away on August 20, 2016. Born in Bourg, Louisiana to Gertrude Savoie Rhodes and Howard Joseph Rhodes. Her mother died when she was an infant, and she spent her childhood surrounded by cousins/adoptive brothers, Alvin White, Eugene White, Shirlyn White, Louis Ray White and Allen White along Bayou Paul and in St. Gabriel. After a few years at LSU, Irene met and married Frank Russell Owen, Jr. and they settled in Memphis, Tennessee. Thereafter, they had two children, D. Adele Owen and Michael Garry Owen both currently of Baton Rouge. Irene subsequently met and married Dr. Harold R. Gillespie and thereafter welcomed her third child, Ronald Christopher Gillespie, who died in infancy. Irene began her lifelong career in the medical field first with a group of physicians at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis and ultimately retiring in 2010 after 27 years of working with her best friend, Tom Kiebach. She was known for her love of animals and of gardening. Irene was preceded in death by her parents, Gertrude Savoie Rhodes and Howard Joseph Rhodes, her brother, Charles Joseph Rhodes, sister, Norma Rhodes Sherburne, and adoptive brothers, Eugene Shite and Shirlyn White. Irene is survived by two children, Adele and Mike, and one grandchild, Trevor Michael Owen, and cousins/adoptive brothers, Alvin White, Louis Ray White, and Allen White. Irene is also survived by her "adopted" sons, Bo Kiebach and Kit Kiebach. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 23, 2016, at Rabenhorst on Government Street. Funeral services are private. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the charity of your choice would be appreciated.