Irene Dona McCormick

Obituary

Passed on May 15, 2021

Irene Dona McCormick was born in Minnedosa, MB on September 4, 1939 to Roy Wilfred and Edith May de Jersey (nee Pittman). Their family included Mum’s older sisters, Ivy (Lloyd Carter) and Yvonne (predeceased, Ernie Ullberg). Grandma and Grandpa raised their family in Erickson and Onanole, MB where Mum developed friendships she valued and maintained throughout her life. At 19, Mum moved to Winnipeg to begin a career in office administration, and sometime soon after she met James McCormick, whom she married in 1960. Together they had two children, a son Darren (Nicki Wilberforce) and daughter Colleen (Penner) whom, they supported together throughout their lives.

Family was priority number one for Mum. She loved spending time with and hearing news about her grandchildren: Brittany (Josh Eason) and Alicia Penner, Wyeth and Niav McCormick, and Maggie Wilberforce. Becoming a great grandmother and spending time with Tage (Eason) brought Mum much joy. Mum was keenly interested in her roots and she enjoyed researching her family’s history, contacting long lost relatives, and keeping up with news of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Mum and Dad shared strong values for hard work and their community, and they both enjoyed the outdoors, camping, and travel. After retiring to a hobby farm near Gunton, MB they spent summers in their large vegetable gardens and shared the bounty of their labour with food shelters in Winnipeg. When spring melting brought threats of flooding to Winnipeg, Mum and Dad pitched in to help within their abilities by transporting sandbags in their pickup truck. Mum enjoyed baking and preserving the produce and berries she and Dad picked. Together they travelled through much of North America, and they were able to visit Europe with Uncle Ernie and Aunt Yvonne, a trip they enjoyed immensely and about which she loved to reminisce. The most recent trip Mum took was to Italy in Fall 2019, accompanied by her daughter and best friend, Colleen.

When Mum and Dad found the farm too much to look after they moved to Stonewall, MB where Mum discovered many ways to integrate herself in the community. Mum attended Stonewall United Church and was a member of the Worship Committee. She made blankets to support Project Linus and spent time with day program clients at the Arris Centre. Mum was a member of the local 55 Plus Centre and Red Hats group, and she enjoyed bowling, stick curling, and line dancing. She shared many laughs, meals, and a few glasses of wine with the friends she made through her escapades in Stonewall, whom she loved dearly.

Mum passed away early in the morning on Saturday, May 15, 2021. Following Mum’s wishes, there will be no funeral. In lieu of flowers, feel welcome to give a donation to the charity of your choice. For the support provided to Mum Colleen and I thank: Reverend Tammy Bleue, Stonewall Seniors’ Resource Centre, South West District Palliative Care staff, CancerCare Manitoba, Stonewall Hospital staff and Dr. Kerr Graham, our Mum’s many friends, and finally Kirsty and Dan Morrison.

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