Irene Edwards

Irene was born September 12, 1940 to Eva and Hugh Adams. Raised on the Adams farm south of Broadview by the Pipestone Valley. She was the 3rd child of 4 with her 1 sister Deanna and 2 brothers Robert and Donald. She was an athletic young woman who could run fast and excelled at field days. Her early education to grade 9 was at the rural Highland school 3 miles west of their farm. She met and began dating Dennie Edwards in grade 11 while attending Broadview High School. She took a business course in Regina and subsequently was hired by Sk Power. When she turned 20 she returned to Broadview and wed the love of her life Dennie Edwards. Oct 15, 1960. Before their wedding Irene lost her beloved father Hugh on Jan 18, 1959 and her brother Robert walked her down the isle. The newly weds went to the the Great Lakes for their Honeymoon. Irene worked briefly at the Wyillie's Grocery store and for the Dept of Indian affairs. After giving birth to her daughter Tracy in 1963, Irene became a full time house wife. Kevin followed 2 1/2 years later in 1966.

Their first home on 5th Ave was across the back lane from Dennis' grandparent, Granny and Grandpa Welbelove. They influenced and began her love affair with flowers. The young family eventually built their forever home on Nina next to Dennie’s parents May and Chris Edwards and only a block from her mom Eva. There she developed her beautiful yard and much loved flower garden.

Irene loved being a stay at home mom and helped with the bookwork and ledger for Edwards Service Ltd. Irene’s hobbies consisted of curling, bowling, painting, ceramics but her main love was her garden. During the summers she spent time with the family at their little red roost cabin and Grannies Inn at Sunset Beach. She and her sister Deanna and mother Eva would spend hours playing scrabble.

The young family’s first holiday was to Disney World. This was the first of many trips for Dennie and Irene. They also traveled to Hawaii, Barbados, Bahamas, Cuba and a Carribean Cruise. After both Irene and Dennie survived cancer they continued to travel and went to South Africa for 5 weeks, trips to Disney World with both sets of Grandchildren and later to Ireland and also an European River Cruise.

The birth of grandchildren and great grandchildren was a major event in Irene’s life. She had 2 granddaughters by Tracy and Dale Kerestesh, Kelsi and Raina, and a granddaughter Hailey and only grandson, Dayton by Kevin and Doloris Edwards. She had 4 great grandchildren, her first, Lucian, was born to Kelsi and Terrance Williamson. Lucian was to battle Leukemia at the tender age of 6 months to 2 years and eventually lost the battle. This grieved Irene’s heart immeasurably, she planted a lilac bush in her garden to keep his memory alive. There would be 2 susequent siblings to Lucian, a sister Aelyn and a brother Dante. Raina and Adam Reiland also blessed her with a great grandson Everest.

Broadview Communities in Bloom honored Irene with the Best Yard award on 3 occasions and she always took home awards for her flower entries. No one loved their community more than Irene. She was always thinking of ways to beautify it.

After Dennie retired and her health began failing Irene loved going for evening truck rides in the rural areas surrounding Broadview looking for wildlife. She was always making cookies and baked goods for the people in her community and family. She always welcomes newcomers to the community and made them feel treasured.

Irene battled poor health courageously for over 30 years. From Lymphoma to Heart Disease she overcome much so she could take part in the lives of her grandchildren and great grandchildren’s lives as long as she possibly could. The battle finally became too much and on Saturday, March 18, 2022, surrounded by her loved ones, at her Broadview Hospital, Irene’s wish of joining her Mom, Sister and Lucian were realized.

A family service will be held at a later date.

In memoriam, donations may be made to the Broadview Health Foundation, Box 670, Broadview, SK S0G 0K0.