IRELAND, Isabelle
May 5, 1915 - Dec. 26, 2013
Together again, after 39 years!
Mum passed away peacefully at Mission Memorial Hospital on Boxing Day, after a long and productive life, following our Dad, Dr. John Allan Ireland, who passed away Boxing Day in 1974. Mum was also predeceased by sons Frank and John, our dearly loved brothers, and survived by son R. Allan (Karin), daughter Catherine (Ben), daughter-in-law Connie, grandchildren K. Allan, Katrine Doganoglu (Tom), Margaret Meunier (John), Julianna, Katie, and great grandson little Johnny.
Mum was born, raised and educated in Vancouver, graduating as a Registered Nurse from St. Paul's Hospital in 1936. After two more years training in the then new field of Radiology, Mum moved to Kamloops to join the Irving clinic, where she met Dad. During WWII, Mum and Dad both served overseas with the Canadian Army Hospital in England, North Africa, and Sicily. Mum was proud to be a Canadian Nursing Sister, and maintained her association with fellow Nursing Sisters for many years, and she was surely one of the last surviving.
Returning to Vancouver after the war, Mum and Dad settled down to raise us four kids, and serve in the community. Mum was an active UCW member at Ryerson United Church, and full-time stay-at-home mum. Later, she was able to enjoy golf at Point Grey Golf Club, and allegedly became a pretty good Bridge player too. Mum enjoyed her retirement at Arbutus Gardens for 22 years, golfing and taking trips all over the world with her friends until she had outlived most of them. In 2006 she came out to Mission to be close to family and spent her last seven years here. A memorial is to be held later when the winter blizzards subside, and the family can safely travel. Many thanks to the kind and compassionate staff and home support at the Carrington, who took such good care of Mum in her final years. Thanks also to Dr. Sabanathan and MMH nurses who listened and ensured Mum's final days on this earth were comfortable.