Alma Jane Thompson Irvine

Alma Jane Irvine was born in Glen Levit on October 30, 1918, to Augustus and Lottie Thompson. She was one of 11 children. She married Ronald Alexander Irvine on December 18, 1939, and they were married for 52 years until Ronald passed away on September 11, 1991. They had 5 children ... Karl, Gayle, Ona, Kerry and Susan. They were blessed with twelve grandchildren, two of whom predeceased them. Alma spent a big part of her life running the family owned store and Esso gas station. She was a hard worker, well liked by every one she met. She always had a smile for everyone.

Here is a little sample of how much she meant to all of us.

Eulogy for Alma Irvine, on behave of all her grandchildren, by her grandson Brian Irvine.

Welcome everyone!

For those that do not know me, my name is Brian Irvine. I am one of the fortunate people in this world to be able to say that Alma Irvine was my grandmother. She was an amazing person, amazing wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend to all of us!!

I've tried in the last few days to think of what she really meant to all of us! That brings me to this point!!

Back in 1997 Grammy gave us a cookbook with all of her favorite recipes! They were hand written and most importantly, they were personalized. This was fabulous because it felt like she was in all of our kitchens. Today I want to reciprocate and give you the Recipe for the perfect Grammy!!

Ingredients:

It starts with equal parts of Alma and Ronald.

Blend in 5 children.

Add 11 grandchildren and stir in a good measure of great grandchildren.

Add a heaping portion of hard work, a dash of patience and a

LARGE measure of love, mix all together and bake for 95 years.

What comes out is a perfect Grammy!!!

She had a few sayings that we all remember:

“Awe go away with ya!”

OR

How about when she would clap her hands together and say

“OH SUGAR!”

The last few days, in talking with our family we've reminisced about so many memories of Grammy.

JOHN remembers when he was down and caught some trout in the brook! He was so pleased and wanted to show Mom and Dad what he had caught. But got so upset when Grammy cleaned them for him and cut all the faces off of them!!

KEN thinks fondly of those huge candy jars sitting behind the counter in the store!

BRENT enjoyed sharing pop rocks with her, even though she didn't like them, she would eat them anyway to prevent disappointing him.

TANYA, picking raspberries and making delicious pies and making pizzas the night before having to leave to come back to Ontario

MARC, Grammy would make home made donuts and, for him, she would load it up with lots of extra sugar!!!

DEBBIE and KELLY were also big fans of her pies and desserts. Debbie also commented on how much her and Kelly enjoyed going for Sunday suppers and being left to tend the store while Grammy ran back and forth to get supper ready.

ROBERT (And again back to food!) He remembered how much he looked forward to have her boiled dinners.

KRIS loved that she always had the BLUE cookies that he really liked, ready for his visits.

Now it seems to be an overwhelming memory of all that we loved the BLUE COOKIES!!

For those of you that don't know BLUE COOKIES are Grammy’s Molasses Cookies.

I myself loved the cookies too.

But also how she would light up any room with her smile. No matter whom it was, when you walked in to see her, her whole face broke out into such radiance.

Grammy, you will always hold a special place in all of our hearts.

You have touched all of our lives and helped to make this world a better place. You will be missed by all!!

We love you

* * * * * * * * * *

Passed away at the Campbellton Regional Hospital on May 5, 2014 at the age of 95, Alma Jane (nee Thompson) Irvine, a long time resident of Flatlands, NB but most recently of the Village Nursing Home in Campbellton, NB.

She leaves to mourn her son Kerry (Brigitte) Irvine of Lindsay, ON; daughters Gayle Chesser of Moncton, NB, Ona Irvine and Susan (Jean-Guy) Caron of Campbellton, NB. Survived by brother George Elmer (Patsy) Thompson; sisters Verna Bulmer and Iris (Robert) Montgomery.

Predeceased by her husband Ronald Alexander Irvine; her son Karl (Glenna) Irvine; her parents Augustus and Lottie Thompson; her brothers Austin, Freeman and Gussie; her sisters Bessie Letourneau, Muriel Barton, Vivian Murray and Etta Murray; her granddaughter Kelly (nee Chesser) Pettipas.

Alma was well loved in the community and known for her kind gentle manner as well as her beautiful smile.

The funeral service will be held at Maher’s Funeral Chapel, 64 Lansdowne Street Campbellton on Friday at 2:00 pm.

Visitation at Maher’s Funeral Home, 33 Lansdowne Street Campbellton, Thursday from 2pm to 4pm, 7pm to 9pm and Friday at the chapel one hour before the service.

Donations to the Flatland’s Cemetery or the donor’s choice would be appreciated by the family.

Funeral arrangements are in the care of Maher’s Funeral Home, Campbellton.