HORNE, Irene May peacefully passed away on December 11, 2021 at the age of 93.
Irene was born May 3rd, 1928 in Edmonton Alberta and is predeceased by her parents (Alfred and Gladys), her brother (Ernest), her sister (Dorothy) and her husband of 63 years (Gerald). She is survived by her 3 children (Marilyn (Ted 2018) – Jocelyn (Roy) – Ray (Fanny)), 6 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
Irene grew up in Edmonton, Alberta and moved to Victoria in 1943, attending Victoria High School. Upon graduation in 1946, she went to Vancouver for a 2 year medical training course in Obstetric-Paediatrics- Gynaecology at the Grace Hospital, graduating in 1948. In the summer after the first year of her training, she met Gerry (1947), the love of her life. They were married in Vancouver in May, 1949. Married life started in Nanaimo (Gerry had a 1 year teaching contract), moving to Victoria in the summer of 1950; thereafter, Victoria was her permanent home. The summer of 1950 also saw the birth of her first child and would soon see the end of her full-time nursing career as Irene chose raising and caring for her family over her career.
Irene had a healthy and active life. She played the piano at an early age and music and the Salvation Army was a big part of her youth. She was a Brownie, Girl Guide and sang in the YP Singing Company. She referred to herself as an athlete and enjoyed participating in athletics all her life. In her youth, it was swimming in the summer and the outdoor winter sports in the long Edmonton winters. After moving to Victoria, she played golf (and bridge as a member at Gorge Vale GC then Uplands GC), curled (Racquet Club of Victoria) and lawn bowled (Lake Hill Lawn Bowling and Grand Lawn Bowling in Surprise, AZ) with success in all three at a competitive level.
Irene was outgoing and social, wanting to be out and active … whether that was in athletics, playing bridge or her love of travel. She started traveling at an early age, taking the train from Edmonton to English Bay to visit her grandparents, then years of camping at Shuswap Lake and once to Disneyland with her young family. In 1969, the family moved to Nigeria for 2 years with 1 month of that time spent in Spain. Cruising later became a big part of their preferred mode of travel as they traveled extensively. In 1997, they purchased a place in Surprise AZ and became snowbirds, spending their winters there and leading an active life through the spring of 2012. Gerry passed away in the summer of 2012; thereafter, Irene spent her time in Victoria at the Alexander Mackie, a place where she enjoyed her independent living and being around people.
Irene was easy going, happy, content, much loved and healthy until the end … she is now back beside the love of her life at the Royal Oak Burial Park.