IRENE ELLIOTT

Elliott,Irene

It is with great sadness the family of Irene Annikki Elliott, of Rainycrest Long-Term Care in Fort Frances, Ont., announces her peaceful passing, at the age of 86, on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015 at La Verendrye General Hospital in Fort Frances.
Irene was born April 23, 1929 in Fort Frances to Emilia (Rantala) and Kaarlo “Charles” Peltonen, living in town until the family moved to the farm in Crozier, Ont. when she was four.
Her career began at 14 years old when she went to work at the peat moss plant. As a young adult, she moved to Fort Frances and worked for the dry cleaners, and after marriage, worked at Ross’ Tourist Camp on Clearwater Lake.
She began her municipal career with the Township of Alberton, and in the evenings completed correspondence courses from Queen’s University.
When the family moved to Devlin, Ont., she was offered the clerk-treasurer position with La Vallee Township. After 25 years of municipal service, she retired in 1991.
On March 28, 1959, Irene married Lawrence Elliott at the United Church in Emo, Ont. They spent their first year of marriage living in a little cabin on Clearwater Lake; then moving to Crozier and eventually Devlin while raising their children, Deborah and Gerald.
Favourite family times were those spent on the lake, both Pipestone and Clearwater, until Lawrence’s sudden passing in 1982.
In the mid-1990s, Irene found herself back in Crozier, where she built her retirement home.
Irene was an avid reader and liked to keep current with the changing world. She was known for her baking, canning, gardening, and sewing.
Her parents instilled in her a love of the outdoors. Whether it was blueberry picking in the muskeg or hauling in a 25-pound musky, this was where she was the happiest.
In mid-life she took up curling, which she enjoyed immensely until an injury prevented her from continuing with the sport.
She also had a deep love for animals and always had at least one four-legged companion by her side.
In 2006, Irene suffered a debilitating stroke and spent the last nine years of her life in Rainycrest. Although the stroke forever changed her life, these years were filled with laughter and countless examples of Irene’s strength and tenacity.
Irene was predeceased by her parents; husband, Lawrence; brother, Ed; and several brothers- and sisters-in-law.
She is survived by her son, Jerry Elliott and daughter, Debbie (Chris) Scofield; grandchildren, Kara Van Drunen (Eric Soderberg), Jaclyn Van Drunen (Del Penner), Christopher Scofield (Thor Swerdyliak); and great-grandchildren, Jace, Luca, and Madi Soderberg and Hayden and Elliott Redekop.
Also surviving are her brothers-in-law, Lyle Elliott, Cecil (Maxine) Elliott, Herb (Marvel) Elliott, and Oscar (Bev) Elliott; sisters-in-law, Josie Dyke, Dennice (Dwight) Meyers-Becker, Darlyne (Stu) Bruce, Judy Kaemingh, and Norma Wolff; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Wednesday Oct. 14, 2015 at 11 a.m. at Green Funeral Home in Fort Frances, with the Rev. MJ D. Leewis-Kirk, AOJN officiating.
Interment took place at the Emo Cemetery in Emo, Ont.
Visitation was held Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. at Green Funeral Home.
In memoriam donations may be made to the Friends of Animals or Rainycrest Activation c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8.
Good night, Irene, good night, Irene, we’ll see you in our dreams.