Obituary of Irene Holmes
On August 18, Irene passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side. She is and will always be the beloved soulmate and cherished wife of Ron Holmes and the generous and loving mother to Jacqueline and David.
Irene was born in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1936. As a child she endured the bombing raids of the Second World War, by huddling in a basement with her five siblings, holding hands and singing songs. At the age of 15 and with a burgeoning sense of adventure, she set out on her own for London. There, at a dance class in the autumn of 1952, she met the love of her life, Ron.
In keeping with her tremendous sense of adventure, she and Ron left London, immigrating to Canada, arriving in Calgary in the winter of 1963. The deep winter cold and the cultural difference between the growing prairie city and that of London, were a tremendous shock. Nonetheless, Irene’s sense of adventure persevered and with Ron, she raised their family with incredible love and support. Irene was the driver and coordinator of her children’s pursuits of hockey, volleyball, swimming and shelties. She also helped Ron build a successful business known as Bert and Jack’s Import Car Service (the preeminent import car service in Calgary).
In retirement, Irene’s sense of adventure continued with trips around the globe, which involved hiking, scuba diving and cycling. While at home in her adopted and beloved city of Calgary, she skillfully played tennis, painted and artfully recorded the family’s history with amazing scrap-books.
Irene with be missed terribly by her husband Ron, her children Jacqueline (Roger) and David (Christy) and her grand-daughters Logan, Reece, Ella and Quinn. She is survived by her sisters Norma and Phyllis, and brother Michael.
She was predeceased by her brothers John and Leslie and her parents.
In accordance with Irene’s wishes, a private graveside service will take place at a later date in, Angmering, England.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, #345, 10909 Jasper Ave., Edmonton AB T5J 3L9 Telephone: (780) 452-1166, or to the Canadian Red Cross Society, Southern Alberta Region, 2nd Floor, 1305 – 11st Avenue S.W., Calgary, AB T3C 3P6, Telephone: (403) 541-6100, www.redcross.ca .