Obituary of HILL – Irene Frances

February 9, 1958 – December 20, 2010 Irene Frances Hill, beloved wife of Ron of Priddis, passed away at The Foothills Country Hospice after a courageous battle with cancer on Monday, December 20, 2010 at the age of 52 years. Irene was born into a happy rural setting in Newmarket, ON where she first developed her riding talents and love for horses. She joined the Canadian Forces after high school, before eventually arriving in Calgary in the mid 1980’s as a single mom with her son Christopher. She met her future husband Ron at a Petro-Canada Torch Relay party; both later participating in the running of the torch into the Calgary Winter Olympics; and then marrying in July of 1988. Irene’s go-getter attitude saw her rise into senior IT management at AEC/Encana, before retiring in 2008 to concentrate on her true loves – horses and growing her chosen sport of Dressage in Canada. She will be sadly missed by her many friends at Encana and many more in the Calgary area Dressage and English horse riding communities. Irene was an unstoppable force in everything she chose to do. She will be sadly missed by her loving husband Ron Hill; son Christopher Charlebois of Victoria, BC; brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Susan Guenzel of Calgary, AB; sister and brother-in-law, Anne and Bob Cordes of Stoney Creek, ON; and brother-in-law, Peter Braun of Germany. She was predeceased by her sister Gesa Braun and her parents, Henry and Gerda Guenzel. Irene simply passed that “extra” love onto her “adoptive parents” Jack and Joan Hill of London, ON. Irene loved her many nieces and nephews. Suzan, Jennifer, Jason, Lisa, Keith, Greg, Marshall, Irene (her mini-me), Mitchell, Alex and Ben will all miss her. A Celebration of Irene’s Life will be held at Ironhill Equestrian Centre (Priddis, AB) on Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 1:00 p.m.Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made directly to the Foothills Country Hospice Society, Box 274 Okotoks, AB T1S 1A5. The family would like to especially thank Irene’s visiting home care nurses from the Foothills Health Unit and the staff at the Foothills Country Hospice for the extra care and compassion you tirelessly provided. In living memory of Irene Hill, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek Chapel, 14441 BANNISTER ROAD S.E. Telephone: (403) 256-9575.