Obituary of Irene Helen Firth

Irene died peacefully in Regina on December 10, 2018 in Regina, SK at the age of 94. She is predeceased by parents Donald and Elizabeth (Helen); husband, Robert; son Ronald; sisters Enid Neufeld and Shirley (Ernst) Schlichting. Irene is survived by son, Kenneth (Elda) of Tappen, BC; granddaughter Cary (Terry) Burant and great-grandchildren Alyssa and Callie of Regina, SK; grandson Michael (Maegan) of Regina, SK; sisters Rita (Keith) Barton of Miles City, MT, Marjorie Tingley of Edmonton, AB; and Norma Wall of Regina, SK. Irene is also survived by Susan Lytle who was like a daughter to her. Irene was born on August 12, 1924 in Wood Mountain, SK to Donald and Elizabeth (Helen) Stevenson. Irene was the oldest of six girls. She worked in the war as a riveter working on airplanes in Moose Jaw. After the war, she went into nursing school and trained at the Grey Nuns Hospital in Regina. She worked as a nurse until 1988. Irene married Bob in Moose Jaw in 1948. The couple welcomed two children into their home Ronald and Kenneth. Irene was passionate about nursing and was always happy with her chosen profession. Her other passion was speed skating. Those two passions were the subject of many stories. She also had a love for the Penticton area of BC, after having spent a summer there when she was 16. Later, she and Bob would travel to BC and take along their cherished canoe which traveled many waterways in that province. Her love of outdoor activities continued as she travelled many routes cross country skiing with Bob. In her later years, Irene developed a keen interest in genealogy and succeeded in tracing her family’s history back several hundred years. A small service will be held at a later date. Irene will be interred at the Kedleston Cemetery beside her husband Bob. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Irene’s memory to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The family would like to thank caregivers and hospital staff at the Pasqua hospital units 4D and 3A who cared for Irene at the end of her life.