MILFORD - M. Irene (Rather) Eastburn passed away peacefully at home on December 25, 2014 surrounded by her loved ones. She was 94. Irene was born in BelAir, Maryland on January 9, 1920, to Cecelia and Frank Rather and graduated from BelAir High School in 1938 where she was very active in sports. She moved to Delaware with her sister to help in the war effort and met and married H. Thompson Eastburn in 1941. Irene was a homemaker after the war and spent most of her life near Newark. She was an active 60 year member of the Christiana United Methodist Church. Irene and Tom relocated to Milford in 2006 where they transferred to Avenue United Methodist Church. Special thanks are extended by the family to Irene's caregivers for their faithfulness and compassion during her illness. In addition to her parents, Irene was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, two brothers, and a sister. She will be missed by her loving family and friends, two daughters, Carole Brennan and her husband Greg and their children; and Cynthia Eastburn and her husband Larry Shaw and their children, two sisters-in-law, Janet Eastburn Jenkins and Anna Eastburn; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Services were held 2 p.m., Tuesday, December 30, 2014 in the Chapel at Grace Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, 2220 North DuPont Parkway, New Castle, 19720, where friends called after 1 p.m. Interment followed the services. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial contributions to Christiana United Methodist Church, 21 W. Main St, Christiana, DE, 19702, or to Avenue United Methodist Church, 20 N. Church St, Milford, DE, 19963. Arrangements handled by Rogers Funeral Home, Milford.