Irene Elaine Seney

Irene Elaine Seney (née McNally), known to everyone as Elaine, passed away on April 18, 2026, after a short illness, at Saanich Peninsula Hospital. She was 81 years old. She was comfortable in her final days and not alone, surrounded by those who cared for her.

Elaine was born on December 27, 1944, in Macklin, SK, and grew up in the Macklin and Estevan area before moving to Calgary, AB to complete high school. She spent most of her young adulthood raising her daughter Shannon in Calgary and later in Windermere, BC before eventually making her way to Victoria, BC in 1985, which became her home. It was there she met Terry Seney and built a beautiful life. She worked in hospitality at the Empress Hotel for several years before finishing her career as a public servant at William Head Institution, while also running a family care home with Terry—work she took pride in.

Elaine was known for her beautiful laugh, quick wit and genuine kindness. She was funny in a way that caught you off guard, and her kindness showed up in how closely she paid attention to people. She had a knack for knowing what to say in hard moments, and people felt it.

Elaine loved to travel — road trips through Western Canada and the U.S., cruising, and trips overseas. She loved time at the lake and always had a good book in hand. Even after her strokes in 2019 limited how far she could go, she never lost her curiosity about the world.

Predeceased by her parents and brother, Elaine is survived by her husband Terry; her daughter Shannon (Graham); her stepchildren Allyson, Andrew, Russel (Vanessa), and Jeff; and her grandchildren Macklin, Cameron, Hudson, Everett, Caleb and Abigail.

Elaine was funny, brave and sweet, and she will be deeply missed by the people who knew her best.

Our family would like to thank the exceptional doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists at Saanich Peninsula Hospital’s Emergency and Palliative Care Units who helped in her end of life care.

A celebration of Elaine’s life will be held at a future date for family and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Palliative Care Unit at Saanich Peninsula Hospital in her memory, or to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation.