Irene passed away suddenly on July 2, 2015 at the Kelowna Hospital at the age of 83 years old.
Irene was born on July 9, 1931 at Calgary, AB, where she lived until 1934, then moved to Trochu, AB between 1934 and 1941, then moved to Royalities (Little Chicago), AB in 1941, worked in Calgary at the Baker Sanitarium (1948), married Frank Bradley on September 18, 1949 in High River, AB, then moved to Williams Lake area in BC and finally settled in Cranbrook, BC.
Irene will be lovingly remembered by her daughter, Freda, son, Bruce, and granddaughters, Echo and Ezra. She is also survived by 5 sisters Edna, Jean, Donna (Dave), Dorothy (Ronald), Carolyn (Ingemar), and 3 brothers Charlie, Ronald (Bella) and Wayne (Leanne). She is also survived by dozens of nieces, nephews, and a bunch of foster children.
Irene was predeceased by her husband Frank, her parents, Bill & Grace, sisters, Elsie & Marie, and brothers, Gordon & Leslie.
Irene lived life. From building a house in the forest from scratch when she was young, to rolling her walker out so she could work her garden in the sun a couple of weeks ago. Irene touched lives. She fostered 26 children over the years because of her love for children. She was the foster mom they never forgot. Irene loved the road. Summer trips to see those places she read about. Teaching her children that the only boundaries are the ones you build. Irene loved to create - crocheting and knitting in her chair for hours on end while watching the food channel. Irene was curious, independent, caring, resourceful, thoughtful, and a gadget freak. Now, she will be puttering in her garden in the morning, doing a road trip in the afternoon, hugging her grandkids at sundown and reading before she falls to sleep.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, July 12, 2015 at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 24, 803 Cranbrook North from 11 am to 1 pm. A private service was held at Mark Memorial in Cranbrook, BC.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to remember Irene may do so with donations to the Heart & Stroke.