STODDART, Irene Grace (nee Virgin)

Irene was born in Foam Lake, Saskatchewan, May 21, 1918 and passed peacefully on September 5, 2017. One of nine children, Irene grew up a ‘farm girl’, and was so in spirit her whole life. A lover of plants and animals, she maintained her own garden until her last days. We will all miss Mom’s stories of her time growing up on the farm.

Loved by her family, friends, neighbors and fellow parishioners, she was always quick to flash a smile and offer of her kitchen. She was fiercely independent and always awoke with some purpose in mind for that particular day. Never wanting to waste time or resources, she was a prodigious baker and keen knitter, producing hundreds of items of toys and clothing to be played with and worn far and wide.

Irene was predeceased (1948) by her first husband, Harry George Barnard and by her long-time husband and soul mate, Fred (1994), Sadly she experienced the passing of six of her siblings: Victor, Violet, Lillian, Kenneth, Jack and Kathleen, but is survived by Ernest and Richard. “Granny” will be fondly remembered and missed by her three children, Pat (Bill, d. 2012) Hurlbert, Bob (Patsy) and James (Kathleen) and her grandchildren, Marie, Billy, Alyson, Adrian, Kaylie, Lindsey, Jeff, Eric, and thirteen great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews. Mom was blessed with a huge extended family. Familial lines blurred when you were in her circle of love. The family wishes to acknowledge the staff and residents of Norgarden Estates, which she happily described as ‘the next best place to heaven.’

A reception to celebrate her life will be held in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive on Saturday, September 30, 2017 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please direct any such kindness toward the Canadian Cancer Society. Condolences may be offered to the family at

www.mccallgardens.com