Sadly, the family announces Irene Ploegman, 70, of Emo, Ont., passed away peacefully at her residence, with her family by her side, on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017 after a courageous battle with ovarian cancer.
Irene was born on May 1, 1946 in Zwijndrecht, Holland to Eldert and Johanna Romyn. Along with her family, she immigrated to Canada in 1948 and settled down to farm life on the banks of the Rainy River.
The Romyn family was not afraid of hard work and the farm soon was a thriving dairy farm.
Irene, being the youngest of the family, was very close to her mother and father, and cared for them diligently in their sunset years. Irene would leave her family in Mather and travel the 30-plus miles one way to attend to their needs (she sometimes would do this twice a day as the care was required).
This did not end with her parents as, over the years, you always would find her at the bedside a family member in need.
Irene was united in marriage to the love of her life, John Ploegman, on Sept. 14, 1963 and they established a farm of their own in Mather Township.
Irene was always John’s right hand in any aspect of farm life. She often could be found in the hot sun baling hay with one of her children propped in windrow of hay sleeping or in the barn helping with milking or delivering a calf on her own.
She always did her fair share, and then some, of the daily farm duties, as well as managed to maintain a home that only could be considered meticulous.
Irene had a flair for fashion and enjoyed her days helping the ladies of the Rainy River District put together some awesome ensembles during her part-time job at Betty’s. She was mimicked often by those with less panache.
Her style sense was not limited to fashion as her home always looked like the recent issue of “Country Living” and her garden like the cover of “Country Gardens.” Her home in Emo often was the highlight of many a visitor who stopped to admire her handiwork.
Irene loved to garden and many times she had her brother, Ben, and husband, John, digging HUGE rocks out of the most outlandish places to ensure her pond looked realistic and the flowers around it appropriate.
She continued this love for gardening when she and John moved to the manor and she joined forces with her gardening pal, Mack Fisher. Together they turned the manor gardens into a local attraction.
Irene was a most loving and giving lady. She always felt a need to help those who were less fortunate than herself or those who were feeling ill and under the weather. There are very few in this district who can say that she did not touch their lives in some simple gesture.
She always did this with genuine heart and never once expected anything in return. This was shown in her time as an Emo Lion and also the time she spent as the Activation co-ordinator at the Emo Health Centre.
She will be missed by her special domino playing cohorts at the manor.
Irene always was there for her brothers and sisters, as well, no matter what their concerns or their troubles. She was the common denominator that always seemed to be present when any of them needed anything. She was the glue that kept us all on track.
She adored her grandkids and great-grands, and nothing made her happier than spending time with them: reading to them, walking with them, or pretending to drink the tea from the Disney Princess tea set!
Irene will be lovingly remembered by her husband, John; children, Joanne (Kent) Ogden of Emo, Ont., Ken (Susan) Ploegman of Saskatoon, Sask., and Travis (Angie) Ploegman of Kelowna, B.C.; and 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
She also is survived by her siblings, Francine Harris, Alice Allen, Ben Romyn, and John Romyn; sister-in-law, Nellie Romyn-McCulloch; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Irene was predeceased by her parents, Eldert and Johanna; siblings, Harry Romyn and Elsa (Louie) Wiersema; sisters-in-law, Marilyn Romyn and Patty Romyn; and brothers-in-law, Jack Harris, Louie Wiersema, and Douglas Allen.
As per Irene’s wishes, a private family service will take place, followed by interment in Emo Cemetery, with Rev. Ralph Fluit officiating.
If desired, in memoriam donations may be made to the Mark Preece Family House c/o the Northridge Funeral Home, P.O. Box 89, Emo, Ont., P0W 1E0.
Online condolences may be offered at www.northridgefuneralhome.com
IRENE PLOEGMAN
