Obituaries

Irene Woods passed away peacefully in Regina, Saskatchewan on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at the age of 89. Irene was predeceased by her parents Wallace and Jean Orr; brothers George Orr and Charlie Orr, sister-in-law Lileth Orr and brother-in-law Irving Nelson. She is survived by her husband Craig Woods; her sister Shirley Nelson; sister-in-law Donna Orr; daughters Lynn Woods (Des Plewman), Lisa Woods, and Ann (Grant) Ozipko; grandchildren Michael Huber, Jenna (Nathan) Labelle, Evan Ozipko and Claire Ozipko; great-grandson Cohen Labelle; and numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

Irene Patricia Orr was born in 1933 in Unity, Saskatchewan. Her birth certificate indicates she was born on July 30, but her mother insisted the hospital staff was not paying attention to the clock, and Mom had indeed been born on July 31, and that was the day her birthday was celebrated.

Mom was a hard-working farm wife and mother on our family farm just south of Kinistino, Saskatchewan. She kept a clean and tidy house - something you appreciate as an adult, but didn’t necessarily notice as a kid. We were always well fed with healthy food and she was before her time using healthy cooking methods. We used skim milk from the moment it became an option and salt and pepper weren’t on the table because she didn’t encourage the use of salt. She appreciated fresh food and had an amazing garden and a large raspberry patch which she had a love/hate relationship with. She baked awesome cinnamon buns and fresh buns and it was fun to come home on those days after school and indulge. As young girls we remember mom packing up food and loading us up to head to the field and take supper to dad, having a picnic with him in the grass.

We still use her glazed raspberry pie, cabbage rolls, and turkey dressing recipes. Everyone enjoyed her crab apple pies and all the other pies - Saskatoon, glazed strawberry or raspberry - nothing went to waste. We remember our cousins reminiscing about having Aunt Irene’s fabulous cakes for dessert, but you had to eat your beans first (and you would pretty much eat anything you had to in order to get to the cake).

In addition to being a fantastic cook, Mom was also great with her hands. She played the piano and organ, she crocheted afghans, knitted sweaters and sewed Halloween costumes to name a few of her projects. She left behind a legacy of items for her daughters and grandchildren.

Mom was a librarian and a story-time teller, but she was most proud to be a teacher. She had a career for longer than many women at that time. Lynn describes her mom as a feminist. Her dedication to equal rights for women led her to cross the border into Lloydminster's Alberta side, defying societal norms to enjoy a drink with friends at the bar. She was also very clear with her girls that being female didn’t mean you were any less capable or deserving of any less than any man.

Mom welcomed all our friends into the house and our home became a second home and family to many of those girls. On the times Dad had to work hard to keep the farm going, Mom would load up the girls and the camper for camping trips to Greenwater Lake, Saskatchewan and that is where she fearlessly confronted a bear with a group of determined moms armed with brooms. That won’t surprise anyone who knew mom, because she was a force to be reckoned with.

Mom’s family was her world. She promoted reading (“I don’t care what you read, as long as you read”). She spearheaded getting Lynn, Lisa and Ann to skating lessons and, in addition to being active in the skating club, she also trained and became a skating judge. Mom believed music was important. She played the piano and organ herself and she saw to it that her girls also took piano and other music lessons.

Mom enjoyed curling, was a bowling league member in Melfort, Saskatchewan and she took up skiing as an over-50-year-old to accompany Ann, which Ann found admirable and bold.

Upon moving from Kinistino to Regina in 1996, Mom took up lawn bowling and became a very active part of that community in Regina. She also travelled regularly on Dash Tour bus tours with friends on trips overseas, and particularly to Scotland which fulfilled a lifelong dream. She enjoyed travelling with friends to Daniel O’Donnell concerts wherever and whenever possible, and she enjoyed going to plays and concerts in Regina when the opportunity arose. In more recent years, Mom was an avid card player, and fellow residents of Queen Victoria Estates and then Brightwater Senior Living were left in the wake when Mom played Bingo. She swore she won more than anyone else because she could hear and see. Even in her final days she could hear a pin drop across the room.

Mom’s greatest joy was her grandchildren Michael, Jenna, Evan and Claire, and – most recently – her great-grandson Cohen. She loved each one of them and was very proud of them and their accomplishments, large and small.

Another lasting legacy of Mom’s was her connection to her parents and her family. She always made an effort to travel to see her parents once or twice a year to make sure we knew them, our aunts and uncles and their families well. We realize now how much effort that required, particularly so back in a time when that level of travel wasn’t as simple or common as it is now.

As we mourn her loss, we know just how fortunate we were to have her in our lives for a remarkable 90 years. We choose to celebrate the life she led and the impact she had on each of us, and we will live our lives with the countless cherished memories and lessons she gave us.

"We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the exceptional first-floor staff at Brightwater Senior Living. Their unwavering compassion and care for Mom throughout her years at Brightwater have been truly remarkable. During her final days, the staff went above and beyond, providing her with a level of tenderness, patience, and compassion that words cannot adequately capture. Their dedication and genuine concern for her comfort and well-being were evident in every interaction. We are forever grateful for the profound impact they had on Mom's quality of life and for creating a comforting and supportive environment during her time at Brightwater. In her final weeks you made a terrible time easier for Mom and our family. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts."

Private Family Service will be held. Flowers gratefully declined.