Martha "Irene" Rahey

RAHEY, Martha “Irene” (Keigan), RN

Age 93, Halifax, passed away peacefully on September 25, 2021, at Parkstone Enhanced Care. Born in Sydney Mines, Cape Breton, she was the daughter of the late James and Christena Keigan.

Irene attended Notre Dame Convent and graduated from Sydney Mines High School, leading the class in all subjects. After high school, at age 17, she started her training at Hamilton Memorial Hospital in North Sydney where she graduated at the top of her class achieving the Gold Medal Award in Nursing. The next 10 years were spent juggling her nursing career while managing her growing family.

Mom was a long-time member of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and the CWL. She will be remembered for her deep religious faith, great sense of humour, care and compassion for those in need, and her love of music. She had many talents and hobbies that kept her busy, including sewing, knitting, competitive bowling, singing, reading, gardening, playing cards and watching the Blue Jays on TV. She spent many years knitting hats for the preemies, mitts for schoolchildren and sewing quilts for the needy. The family home on Shirley St. was open to all her children’s friends and extended family.

Irene was predeceased by Fred, her husband of 54 years and by brothers, Byron and David. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She will be deeply missed by her children: Ann Etter (Gerry Reardon), Fred (Susan), John (Sandra Goudey), Kingston, Ontario, Mary Aucoin (Jude), Theresa Ivey (Stan), North Sydney, Nancy Cahill, Judi, Sid (Paula), Kathy Woodland (Wayne). “Nana” will be forever in the hearts of her grandchildren: Rebecca (Mikkel), John-David (Jess), Stephen, Shauna (Owen), Michael (Ariel), Mark, Terri-Lynn, Jordan (James), Laura (Nick), Nicholas, Kiera, Andrew and 3 great grandchildren: Abigail, Braxton and Boyd.

Special thanks to the nurses, caregivers and doctors of the 3rd floor Mount Lane, Parkstone Enhanced Care.

Visitation will be held at Cruikshank’s Halifax Funeral Home, 2666 Windsor St., Halifax, NS, on October 1, 2021, from 5pm-8pm . Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Ignatius Parish, 1288 Bedford Highway, Bedford, NS on October 2, 2021, at 9:00 am.

** Covid-19 Protocols will be in place for both the Visitation and the Funeral Service – Double Vaccination, Masking and Social Distancing is required.

** To pre-register your attendance for the service please call 902-455-0531. A livestream of the service will also be available to those who can not attend by visiting: www.jasnowfuneralhome.com

Irene will return home to her beloved Cape Breton for a graveside service and interment at 11:00 am on October 4, 2021, at the Holy Cross Cemetery in North Sydney.

In memory of Mom, please consider contributing to a charity of your choice, sharing a smile and a song with your neighbour or lending a hand wherever needed.