IRIS MARQUIS

Iris was born in Minahico, Ont. in 1927. She was the youngest of 11 children, the last surviving member of the Gaudry family.
Married to Phillip James Marquis on Dec. 24, 1947, and before she was 30 years old became the mother of five children, Perry, Don, Dave, Paul, and Melanie, all surviving.
During the 1960s, Iris raised her family until they either were working on the Canadian National Railway or studying at college or university.
As the youngest son, Paul studied English literature while Melanie studied nursing.
During the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s, Iris worked at Arctic Cat Enterprises, later at the Red Cross Hospital, and finally with Rainy River Home Support.
Iris was an avid curler and a great admirer of Lake of the Woods. She loved travelling the lake on sight-seeing expeditions and fishing.
She had a lovely voice and participated in the choir at the Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Rainy River. She was a long-standing member of the Catholic Women’s League and also was a one-time member of the Red Hat Society.
Everyone who knew Iris will recall her witty sense of humour, her love of stories, and her appreciation of social gatherings.
Iris also loved to travel, residing for short periods in Florida, Texas, and Arizona. She also enjoyed trips to Hawaii and to Mexico.
Regardless of her travels, Rainy River was always her home. She believed wholeheartedly in the spirit of giving to others, of helping out when a hand was needed, and of contributing to the community.
She will be sadly missed by her children; her grandchildren, Tyler and James, Natalie, Louis, and Jennifer, David and Sarah, and Tiffany and Jana; and by her great-grandchildren, Josh and Kristian, Dani and A.J., and Rion, Zane, and Cole.
Iris passed away Tuesday, May 8, 2012, with her family by her side, at the Rainy River Health Centre in Rainy River, Ont.
A mass celebration of her life was held Friday, May 11, 2012 at 11:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Rainy River.
In lieu of flowers, in memoriam donations may be made to the Rainy River Locum Housing c/o Northridge Funeral Home, P.O. Box 89, Emo, Ont., P0W 1E0.
Online condolences may be offered at www.northridgefuneralhome.com