Irene Anna Sampson of Barrington, NH, 81, died on 7th of June, 2020. She was born in Rezekne, Latvia to Nikolajs Bogdanovs and Helene (Gaidulis) Bogdanovs Irene lived a long complicated life with a determined disposition and a positive outlook. Her paternal grandparents were forced to Siberia during the 1941 Soviet deportations. Her family fled the Russians to Germany. As WW2 ended, her family was moved into DP camps, both Paderborn and Lubeck. In 1951, Milda and Kristaps Bets sponsored the Bogdanovs family to Des Moines, IA. Irene attended St Joseph Academy, graduating with honors in 1957. In the same year, she naturalized as a US Citizen. Irene studied at St Mary’s College in South Bend, IN until she married Richard Sampson in 1962. Irene was married for 15 years during which time the family lived in several locations in US and in Hiroshima, Japan. She birthed 5 children: Tinuviel, Richard (deceased), Steven, Mary, Katinka. After her divorce, she continued her schooling to earn a Bachelor of Liberal Arts at Harvard University Ext in 1982, graduating Cum Laude. She then studied computers at both Boston and Cambridge computer schools to become a certified programmer. She had a successful 20 year career as a programmer, eventually retiring from LL Bean in Freeport Maine in 2003. Irene loved folk dancing, she traveled all over New England to dance. She was involved with the Seacoast Bridge Group for a couple decades. After retirement, Irene revived her interest in fiber arts. She perfected her Latvian knitting techniques and learned the American arts of rug hooking and quilting. She spent the last several years of her life becoming a master knitter. Her struggles were many; nevertheless, she persisted Irene is survived by 4 children and 2 grandchildren. She is predeceased by her parents Nikolajs and Helene (Gaidulis) Bogdanovs, her sister Ieva (Bogdanovs) Stonehocker, and her brother Nikolajs Bogdanovs. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the American Latvian Association may be made in Irene’s name. https://alausa.org/en/participate/donate-to-ala/ Currently, no memorial services are scheduled due to covid-19 restrictions. We hope to have a local memorial in 2021. A private memorial will be held in August 2021 in Rezekne, Latvia ********* Once upon a time in a far away northern country named Latvia, a little girl was born that brought joy to the whole family. Fair of skin and hair, and quick in her changeability and attention span she was often called Quicksilver. Her world was confined to a beautiful crystal bowl that kept her whole and safe as she explored all the surfaces quickly rolling from side to side – sparkling in the tranquility of her universe and receiving love and admiration from each relative in turn. When in the country, she would lead her uncle John, just as readily as she led his horse on the loose red leash through the meadows. John was an early riser, and Quicksilver would rise with him, and they both would walk through the dew in the birch and pine grove, sometimes gathering mushrooms. Memory written by Irene in 2009