Obituary of Linda Christine IRWIN (nee Hemstad)

February 23, 1947 – Domremy, Saskatchewan
April 4, 2020 – Calgary, Alberta

Linda Christine Irwin, beloved wife of Tom Irwin of Calgary, AB, passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2020 at the age of 73 years.

Linda moved to Calgary in 1970 after graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of Saskatchewan.  After working for a year as an RN in the Delivery Room at the Calgary General Hospital, she transferred to the School of Nursing where she taught Obstetrics for two years. When the School of Nursing closed she travelled to Europe for over a year, primarily to meet family in Norway. On her return she taught Obstetrics to Nursing Students at the Mount Royal College and at the Red Deer College.  Following that she held management and education positions in various acute care centres.  She ended her career at the Colonel Belcher Hospital where she held education positions and managed the Special Care Unit which cared for residents with dementia.

She enjoyed sports, reading, history, music, dogs, gardening, home decorating and a good laugh.

Lin is survived by her husband Tom; daughter Kara; step-son John (Amy, Kendal and Hunter) Irwin; step-daughter Jena (PJ, Greyden and Chloe) Suatter; brothers, Einar, Harold, John and Norman Hemstad; sister Darlene; many nieces, nephews, cousins and family in Norway.  She was predeceased by her mother Clara; father Einar; aunt Marie; brothers, Knute and George; sisters, Ida and Margaret; and son-in-law Darin Swain.

A Memorial Service will be held in Calgary at a future date when it is safe to do so. An interment service for her ashes will be held at a future date at Linda’s childhood country church, Bethania Lutheran Church in Domremy, SK. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Linda’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

Donations may be made to any humanitarian charity that makes this a better world, a Veteran’s Food Bank, a humane society particularly for dogs.  You may want to adopt a dog and name it Bingo or Xena.

Many thanks to the medical and nursing staff at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Palliative Home Care, the Agape Hospice and members of the North West Community Church.

In living memory of Lin Irwin, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot, 82 CROWFOOT CIRCLE NW, CALGARY, AB T3G 2T3,   Telephone: 403-241-0044.