Obituary of Irene EVERETT

IRENE CATHERINE EVERETT With heavy hearts, the family of Irene Everett announces the passing of their beloved mother on December 7, 2010. Irene will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by her son Bob and wife Yvonne, her daughter Cathy and husband Rodney Rolls, and her grand and great grandchildren John, (Adrian), Tracy, Odin and Solveig Duke and David Rolls. She will be deeply missed by many others including: her west coast family Gayle, Ben, David and Michael Suveges and all of the Suveges ''great ones", her nephew Jim Jones and partner Colin Gruchy, and "adopted" son Tim Preston and partner David Ling. In addition, she will be missed by all of her nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and by her many friends. Irene was predeceased by her husband Richard in October 2009, her infant son Richard, her sister Isabel, her brothers Ed, Garnet (Happy), Calvin (Keg) and Ernie, and by her best friends Eric and Ann Farmery. Irene was born and raised in Manitou. She always said how much she enjoyed growing up in Manitou and how much she missed it. She spoke with great fondness of all her Manitou friends and loved reminiscing about her home town; she always looked forward to her visits home. During World War II, Irene moved to Winnipeg where she lived with her sister Isabel. She was proud of her brothers, all four of whom were enlisted in the army during the War. In June of 1945, she went to the train station to welcome back her brother Keg, who was returning home after serving overseas for six years. It was at the train station that she met Richard, who had been in Keg's regiment for six years. Richard and Irene remained together from that moment forward, marrying six months later -- a commitment and bond that lasted for sixty-five years. Irene was a devoted wife and mother, making a wonderful home and happy life for her husband and two children, their partners, their children and their friends. She taught everyone, by the way she lived her life that love was unconditional and premised on the simple but true idea that family and friends were the things that mattered most in life. Irene began working at the Hudson's Bay Company shortly after moving to Winnipeg. She started working in their Jolly Canuck restaurant in the 1940s and worked at the Bay for 43 years, retiring after many years of working in the Bay's 'smoke shop'. She enjoyed working at the Bay where she made countless friends of fellow employees and customers. In her early years at the Bay, she sang in the Bay's Christmas Choir, which sang Christmas carols every morning before the store opened. Irene was also an active member of the Bay's retirement club, and their monthly meetings allowed her to reconnect with the many friends that she had made during the time she had worked at the store. Each year, long after her retirement, she would return to the Bay where she would sell daffodils to raise money for cancer care as it was a cause that was deeply important to her. Irene cared deeply about others, and she had many life-long friends. There are so many wonderful friendships and memories to treasure: happy times with her dear friends, the Farmerys, family trips to the West Coast and visits with her sister Isabel, niece Gayle and all of Gayle's family, shopping trips to Grand Forks and a birthday trip to Las Vegas with Georgie and Rachelle, road trips to the Half Moon for hotdogs, long ago summers in Gimli, Sunday night suppers and sing-a-longs, and the most magical Christmas times ever. Our mother was the kindest and most loving person we have ever known. Anyone who met her was instantly touched by her gentle and sweet personality. To know her was to love her. She was a truly selfless person and the only thing she ever wanted in life was for her family to be happy and healthy. We have been truly blessed to have had her as our mother. We will love and cherish her memory forever. Irene's family has many people to thank. In the last year of her life Irene was surrounded by and cared for by a team of Angels: Norma, Tina, Krisa, Gloria and Becky. Each one of these wonderful Angels became part of Irene's family. Each of them loved and cared for her with great compassion and kindness. We can never thank them enough for the loving care that they provided to her. We would also like to thank Doctors Bhayana, VandeVelde, Harris and all of the staff on the E6 floor of St Boniface Hospital who provided excellent medical care to Irene. Lastly, we would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to the many friends who helped us through this difficult time, especially, Rachelle, Robin, the "Not Guilty" team and Marilyn and Marion for always being there. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, December 11 at 1:30 p.m. at Kildonan United Church, 187 Kilbride Ave. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a cancer charity of your choice. "With aching hearts we whisper low, God Bless You Mother, We'll miss you so." REST IN PEACE DEAR MOTHER.