Obituary of FINN – Irene Kathleen

September 10, 1920 – July 4, 2011 Irene Kathleen Finn, beloved Mother, Grandmother and Great-grandmother, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Monday, July 4 at the age of 90. Irene was born on September 10, 1920 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her father, Tom Robinson, was a Winnipeg manager for the CPR who instilled a love of the railway in his children. For their summer holidays he arranged to send his daughters Irene and Marg on the train to the Sproule family farm in Standard, Alberta. It was from her mother, Sarah Sproule, that Irene inherited her irrepressible Irish sense of humour and love of family. Back in 1952, Irene moved with first husband, Harry Booth, to Alberta, eventually making Calgary and 8 Moorgate Place the family home. Manitoba family ties meant she and her children returned often to spend summers with sister Marg and “the Winnipeg cousins”. When her children grew older, Irene polished up her Canadian Wheat Board executive secretarial skills program and returned to a successful career with Home Oil and Scurry Rainbow in Calgary. As her career wound down, Irene met and married Frank Finn who became a loved companion and grandpa in later life. Throughout, Irene enjoyed travelling with family and close friends, golf, curling, skiing and bridge or the occasional killer game of cribbage. For the past eight years Irene joined other Calgary “seniors” to spend two pleasant days a week at the “C3” program at Carewest Sarcee. Thanks to their care and attention Irene was with them until the end. And so our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Diane Turner, Cindy Boyle and the wonderfully caring staff for looking after Irene for so many years. Above all, Irene treasured time spent with her children, grandchildren and her close friends. She has shown us how to enjoy life through her quick wit and sense of humour. Irene was always “in great shape for the shape she was in”. Mom will be lovingly remembered by so many friends and particularly by her children Bob (Kathie) Booth, Pam (Sandy) Irving, Geoff (Tracy) Booth, and grandchildren, Tom (Holly) and Jeff Booth, Tyler, Kate and Heather Irving, Dan, Angie and Shannon Booth, great granddaughter Abigail Booth and by Frank’s Calgary children John and Nancy Finn. Irene was predeceased by her parents Tom and Sarah, by her siblings Coulter (Coke), Marg and Olive, and by her husbands Frank Finn and Harry Booth. A Funeral service will be held at St. Peter’s Anglican Church (903 75 Avenue S.W.) on Monday, July 11, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the “Comprehensive Community Care (C3) Program c/o Calgary Health Trust” and addressed to Carewest Sarcee, 3504 Sarcee Road SW, Calgary, AB T3E 4T4. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. Arrangements in care of McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Telephone: (403)243-8200.