Irene Tivey, also known as "Rene", was born on 5 May 1908 in St. Pancras, London. She grew up in Russell Road, Walton-on-Thames, with her parents, six siblings and paternal grandmother.
Rene had a son when she was still unmarried, and he was raised by her parents. Rene married William A. Gregory in 1933 in Uxbridge. They had no children together, and ran "The Red Lion" public house.