Irene passed away December 26, 2025. Irene was born on December 22nd, 1929, in Harbin, China to parents Boris and Valentina Glebow. When she was one year old, her family relocated to Shanghai, where she eventually graduated from Sacred Heart Convent and then Shanghai Business College. Irene’s life in Shanghai was dominated by sports at the Soviet Sports Club, with her days spent playing Grass Hockey, Volleyball, Netball and Track and Field. She was the captain of some of those teams. She met the love of her life, George Zellenskey, at the Club on May 4th, 1949. The two were married in November of that year, and 500 people attended the wedding. Irene and George’s first daughter, Valentina, was born on Feb 12th, 1951, and two years later, the family immigrated to Canada. Their second daughter, Victoria, was born on November 8th, 1953. George and Irene had a wonderful marriage of 36 years. George worked as a compositor for the Times Colonist and Irene in the insurance business. Sadly, George passed away from lung cancer after a short illness in 1986. Following George’s passing, Irene went on a long trip to Australia to visit friends. Upon returning, she decided to volunteer at the Victoria General Hospital gift shop, a position she kept for 35 years. In 1987, Irene met Sam at a widow and widowers’ ball, where they danced the night away. Sam proposed to Irene in front of the Fountain of Trevi in Italy, and on December 5th, 1987, they were married. Sam and Irene travelled the world many times over and lived life to the fullest. After 28.5 years of adventures together, Sam passed away in 2016.
Irene enriched the life of anyone around her and smothered her family with unconditional love and affection. She had 4 grandchildren: Andrew, Nicole, Maxwell and Duncan. They referred to her as Baba and thought the world of her. As a Baba, Irene was impeccable, always being there for her grandchildren in any way she could. Be it family dinners, Christmas gatherings or vacations, she always found any excuse to bring the family together and spend as much time as possible with the ones she loved. In later years, she became a great grandmother to George, Kobe, Kruz, Elodie, Cohen and Turner. It brought her so much joy to have yet another generation to spread her love to, and she spent as much time as she could with each of them.
Irene was diagnosed with throat cancer at 90 but fought it off with radiation treatments and her strong will to have more time with us. She stayed active all the way up until the end, as a member of the CB55 club, playing ping pong, pickleball and going for regular walks. Her throat cancer returned at age 95. On December 22nd, 2025, she dressed in her wedding dress, had her makeup done by her granddaughter Nikki, and attended her 96th birthday party with the family, determined to celebrate one last time, as the life of the party. A few days later, on Boxing Day, she left us, just as bravely as she lived each day of her life and surrounded by all the people she loved most.
Irene’s final words were: “I love you all so much, more than you will ever know.”
But we know Baba, we know.
Irene is survived by her daughters Tina (Walt) and Vicky, grandchildren Andy, Nicole (Ryan), Max (Ali), Duncan (Alexis), and her great grandchildren George, Kobe, Kruz, Elodie, Cohen and Turner.
We will have a family Celebration of Life.
In Lieu of donations please buy flowers for someone you love, in honour of Irene!
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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27 Responses
Dear Tina and Vicky. What a dear little soul your Mum was. I knew her through Cordova Bay 55+ where I watched her gladly help wherever she was needed, always willing to assist, besides taking part in several activities offered at the Centre. Such zest, energy, elan, and zeal, all fueled by a personality of huge proportions for such a tiny person. She is missed by everyone who knew her at 55+ and, on behalf of all her friends there, I extend our deepest sympathy to you and your family.
Most sincerely, Barb Waldner
We met Irene and Sam many years ago in Roadaven, Arizona. So many dinners, so many celebrations, hiking, dancing, Irene was the consumate hostess. We visited them in Victoria, they came to us in Osoyoos and we kept in touch over the years. Love of family and friends was paramount to Irene. She was a sparkler in life… I am sorry to hear she is gone. Condolences to all the family… there is a hole in your life.
Deepest condolences to the family of Aunt Irene. I have great memories of her and Uncle Sam coming to visit our family in Nova Scotia many years ago in their R.V. She introduced me to the “caesar”. To this day I still think of her whenever I have one. She truly loved life and Uncle Sam loved her so much. How fortunate they were to enjoy such a wonderful and active life together.
We met Irene & Sam in Thailand, when we were at our honeymoon as a young couple of 24 and 29. This was in October 1995, and we stayed in contact thru social media. Every year we got the sweetest online Christmas card, writing how they lived their lives enjoying it to the fullest. Three things were always present: their love for each other, the passion for travelling and how proud they were on their growing family. How sad we felt when Sam passed away, but the pride and love for the family gave her strength.
Even though we are Dutch and live in Amsterdam, we always felt the connection. Just a few months ago, we celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary and each year we remember this great couple we met in Oct 1995.
We deeply care and our heart is broken reading dear Irene has passed away. We do know her heart is with Sam now, reunited with her dearest Sam and back together again to do what they always loved so much: hand in hand together on a new journey to destination unknown.
Our deepest condolences,
Erik Jan & Mascha Driessen
The Netherlands
Dear Vicky and Tina and families,
Your loss is such a deeply felt one…I share this with you as I mourn the loss of the dearest of friends- one who has been close to me for more than half a century. Irochka was a dynamo, a firecracker, a sparkling personality that emanated sunshine wherever she went. She was an inspiration and great support to me in every way.
She adored every member of her family- big and small- and she was accepting and inclusive. Her effervescent spirit ensured that she made instant friendships worldwide!
She was always active, positive and encouraging. Because of this, while travelling, we were able to create and share many beautiful and memorable experiences. Whether it was searching for an obscure ingredient for a new recipe she was trying out or hunting for an unbeatable bargain, she left an indelible mark on everyone’s lives.
I will really feel the absence of such a special and beloved friend.
Please accept my condolences….
With greatest love,
Olga( Tania, Andrei, Lucy and Tony and families)
I miss my dear Irene. We played ping pong at cb 55. It was always a pleasure to have a chat with her. She was so much more to me :a mentor, a trusted friend, an inspiration. My deepest condolences.
My heartful condolences to Tina and Vicky and their families. I am grieving with you all. It will take a while for me to be convinced that my lifelong friend is no more. Thank you, Vicky’nka, for bringing mother to Vancouver on my 100th birthday. The best present I could ever receive.
Our friendship is a lifelong history between the two families. When Irene’s mother Valia and her father Boris Glebow married in Harbin, China, they shared a house with my husband Frank’s father Gregory and his mother Maria Ognistoff.
Years later they were reunited in Shanghai, China, and resumed their friendship. Their son Tolia and my husband Frank were great friends. I met Irene when she was 5 years and I was 9. She was in kindergarten in the same school as me. Later, my first office job in Shanghai was with Irene’s father Boris’ insurance company. Irene was working there too. I was Irene’s bridesmaid at her wedding to George in Shanghai. I arrived in Vancouver in
1952, and Irene and George, along with Tina, came in 1953, eventually settling in Victoria. Despite being across the Georgia Strait from one another, we continued meeting and celebrating our important dates together for all the decades to come: birthdays, anniversaries, and certainly New Years’. We formed a large crowd, almost all of us old friends from China.
Irene’s father Boris Glebow came to Victoria to live with Irene and my father-in-law Gregory Ognistoff joined us in Vancouver. The two old friends frequently saw each other and continued their friendship.
And now we have come to the end of our lives. Rest, my beloved friend Irochka. You are always in my heart.