Irene Margaret Properzi

Written by: Irene Properzi in 1984

I was born September 27, 1930 the eldest daughter of Margaret and Andrew Carnegie in the Royal Alexander Hospital in Edmonton.

I already had a little brother 3 years old. The following October 23 I was told he wasn't too impressed with a black haired, pink, wrinkled, little sister. He wanted a brother, big enough to play with; but, after the first disappointment he became quite fond of me and somehow I feel I took the place of a brother; from trapping squirrels to learning calves to feed.

We lived in Edmonton for the next nine months and moved to Shoal Creek where my Dad's brother George and his family had already taken a homestead.

Aunt Alberta tells me of the time we all went to a picnic at the Shoal Creek School. She was holding me on the seat of the old democrat (what they called the old horsedrawn buggy) when the one wheel dropped in a hole on the very rough trail. Her and I were both thrown out and luckily we landed in some long soft grass on the side of the trail.

We lived with Uncle George and Aunt Alberta until Dad was able to get his own homestead.

While we were there Dorothy was born on the first of April, 1932; which I don't remember. Then Letitia,our younger sister came along on October 12, 1933, Uncle George's birthday. I can remember my mom bringing her home. So now there were four of us.

In the mean time Dad had got a homestead and he and Uncle George built the little log house on it and we were ready to move the spring of 1934. Everything had been moved and I remember we walked over to our new home through clouds of mosquitoes. As soon as we arrived, Dad got a fire for a smudge going.

We were there a few days when Dad had to go off to work; leaving Mom and the four of us to get the house ready for winter.

Bob and I were playing outside one day when we saw what we thought was the nicest little black and white cat going under the house, which was still open underneath. We ran in to tell Mom, she got really upset and told us, "That's no kitten, that's a skunk, don't you go near it or else!"

Shortly after, Uncle George came along with the mail. We couldn't wait to tell him about the skunk. Uncle George was always joking with us so he said, "Ah there's no skunk under there." We said, "Yes there is", and jumped on the floor to prove it before Mom could stop us. We sure showed him there was a skunk alright! The next day Uncle came back and with the help of John Thomas, another neighbor, they smoked it out.

I remember too, the yard around the house where Dad had cut away the trees. There were the stumps and we were all running around bare foot. When ever we

d stub a toe on a stump, Bob would run and get the axe and chop the stump out; so one by one they disappeared.

Over the next while we got a cow and some chickens. Mom always put in a big garden, so we had lots to eat along with the wild raspberries, strawberries, currants, gooseberries and cranberries etc. I can still remember the freshly baked bread and wild strawberries and cream after spending the afternoon out picking berries. They were delicious.

One night after dark, Dad came walking home from work with a surprise. He told us our Grandma Pattison was on her way to our place. She had stayed with Mrs. Nowicki for the night as he didn't want her to walk through the swamp trail in the dark.

We always knew when Dad was coming home as we could hear him whistling while he walked. Grandma arrived the next morning and we were all excited as we had never seen her before. She had seen Bob as a baby but not the girls.

A month or so passed and one morning Grandma got us up quite early and told Bob and I to go over to Uncle George's with a note. When we came home later, Auntie came with us to find we had a new baby brother; Lyle; this was September 1935.

This same fall Bob started school and Mom would walk with him until he was almost close enough to meet the neighbors; as Bob didn't want the kids to tease him that his mother had to walk with him. But there were no roads and bush everywhere and he was a little boy of 8.

On August 18, 1937 Donald our youngest brother was born and I was ready to start school. Bob went to school the first day and fell on a big nail on the old backstop. He had to stay home from school with a real sore leg for 3 weeks; so I wasn't able to go by myself; so I started school on my 7th birthday. When I got there I felt bad, as it seemed, the rest of the class were ahead of me; but I soon caught up with them. I loved school and hated to miss a day.

The years passed and I was in grade four; everyone got the measles and I got Rheumatic Fever and St. Vitus Dance. The doctor told Mom to keep me out of school. This was near the end of the year. I passed into grade five but the doctor told Mom I couldn't go back the next year. When I got back the following year I was a year behind my former classmates, but I did well and passed into grade six. The following year I stayed with Aunt Alberta and went to school with Doris as she had to walk over 2 miles alone to Grandale school. Our teacher was Mis Joan Lobley, now Mrs. Fred Tansowny.

The next year I went back to Shoal Creek Heights to finish grade 7 and 8. Then I took grade 9 by correspondence.

After that I did some baby sitting and house work for neighbors, as well as helping with the cooking for the threshers. One fall it seemed as if I moved with the threshing machine from one neighbor to the next. From John Williams to Bob McKinty's, to Raymond and Helen Brandens, to Philip and Bertha Casavants and to the Madsons.

Later that fall I started working for the Agnew's at Shoal Creek Store. I stayed almost 3 years doing house work, baby sitting, and working in the store and post office. I didn't make a lot of money but it was close to home and I never liked the idea of going off to town or city.

There were local dances almost every weekend or Saturday nights when everyone just had to go to Barrhead to the show or a dance.

One night I met a guy from Naples and he asked me to go to a dance after the annual chicken supper at Linaria. His name was Abraham Properzi. We saw each other for the next 2 years before we decided to get married. Our wedding was the 16th of June 1950, a beautiful sunny day. We were married in the Barrhead United Church; a small reception of family and friends, followed by a dance at the Shoal Creek Hall. We were having trouble getting an orchestra to play when Philip Giles told us he could get some of his relatives from Thorhild.

We lived with Abe's Mom and Dad on the family farm (his Dad's original homestead) only a few feet from the log house where Abe was born on August 5, 1924.

We built a new home in 1960 in the same yard and still here today. We have raised twelve children over our 33 years of marriage. Linda Anne (May 29th, 1951), who married John deJong of Eastburg. They now live in St. Albert. Linda works for Gulf Oil in Edmonton and has 4 children; Angela, Barbara, Gary and Gina.

Louise Margaret (October 8th, 1952), married Jim Miller of Vega and now lives in East Edmonton. They have 3 children; Corinne, Blair and Danny. Louise is a school teacher taking some time off to raise her family.

Donald Abraham (January 25th, 1954), married Mona Rode of Westlock. They have 3 children; Tim, Dennis and Kristy.

Carmen David (May 5th, 1955), married Bonny Smerychinski. They live in Clyde. Bonny works for the Denture Clinic and Carmen has just started his own business with his brother Richard as Electricians.

Vincent Andrew (March 24th, 1957), is working for a well servicing rig in Swan Hills. His fiancé, Shirley Stevens also works in Swan Hills.

Richard Dale (January 10th, 1959), is married to Gail Kyle of Swan Hills. Gail works for a chiropractor in Barrhead and Richard works with his brother Carmen in their business.

Kenneth John (August 6th, 1961), works for the County of Barrhead and lives at home.

Ernest James (February 26th, 1964), works in Barrhead and lives at home.

Frances Rose (April 9th, 1966), is taking grade 12 and hopes to do office type work.

Marina Mae (October 19th, 1968), is in Grade 10 and is hoping to go to University.

Lolita Irene(July 28th, 1971), is in grade 7. She hasn't quite decided on her future.

Paul Edwin (March 2nd, 1974), is in grade 4. He says he's going to be a farmer, but that's a few years down the line.

So as you can see this story has only begun, who knows what the future holds in store. We only hope it brings years of good health and happiness because if we have these the rest will take care of itself.

I'm happy to say I grew up where I did, and knew all the people I did through my life time, as it's been memories. I guess there were some bad times too, but somehow it's the good memories that stand out to me.

I now think of Naples as my home as we've been married 33 years now and live on the farm which used to be a stopping place when the early settlers were moving into Shoal Creek. Abe's Mom used to make a cup of coffee or tea while the horses rested. My folks stopped like many others, not ever thinking I'd some day marry and live here.

We owe a lot to these dear people that worked so hard and went through so many hardships to make a future for the next generations. It was their dreams which have now become a reality and that has made our country what it is today. Let's not forget all those pioneers who have gone before us; we owe them our thanks and gratitude.

THIS PORTION WRITTEN BY IRENE PROPERZI - TAKEN FROM THE PROPERZI STORY IN 2005

....Twelve children in all and we are very proud of them. We now have 30 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren. At this time, there are 10 married and living with their original spouses, which is something to be proud of in this day and age.

Then on March 16th, 2003, Abraham passed away after a short illness with cancer. My whole world fell apart when I lost him, but that's th way life is, we never know what the future holds. One has to live life to its fullest, cherish yesterday, dream of tomorrow and live today. I was almost 20 years old when I married and would have been married 53 years, 3 months to the day after Abraham passed away. So I was a member of the Properzi family for 54 years and proud to be able to say that we did our part in keeping the Properzi heritage.

* * * * * * * * * *

Irene Margaret Properzi (nee Carnegie)

September 27, 1930 – December 29, 2011

Mrs. Irene Margaret Properzi passed away on December 29, 2011 at the age of 81 years. She is survived by her loving family; her twelve children, Linda (John) deJong, Louise (Jim) Miller, Donald (Mona) Properzi, Carmen (Bonny) Properzi, Vincent (Shirley) Properzi, Richard (Gail) Properzi, Kenneth Properzi, Ernest (Lella) Properzi, Frances (Terry) Dietrich, Marina (Dennis) Storey, Lolita (Lowell) Chadd, and Paul (Dawn) Properzi; two brothers, Lyle (Edna) Carnegie and Donald “Buzz” (Bonnie) Carnegie; sister, Dorothy Rauscher; sister-in-law, Marie Carnegie; thirty-two grandchildren; twenty-one great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Irene is predeceased by her husband, Abraham; parents, Andrew and Margaret Carnegie; brother, Robert “Bob” Carnegie; and sister, Letitia Brown. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 1:00 pm at the Barrhead United Church with Rev. David Pype officiating. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Rose Garden Chapel, Barrhead, AB 780.674.4644. An Honoured Provider of Dignity Memorial.