Daughter of John Ernest Kenny and Margaret Julia Collins.
Irene Catherine Kenny was the youngest of four children, Jack, Douglas and Gerry, of a founding family of Victoria, BC. Her grandfather, Timothy Collins, emigrated from Cork, Ireland to America and eventually established himself in Victoria, Canada circa 1880s.
Over the generations, through hard work and persistence, the Kenny family flourished in the formative years of Victoria and Vancouver. Douglas Timothy Kenny became President of The University of British Columbia, her Brother Jerry Kenny helped run the postal services in Vancouver, and Jack Kenny pursued a career in education, teaching in America.
Irene followed the family tradition and worked all her life in administration for the Vancouver School Board, Vancouver City Hall, and the Customs Office in Victoria.
She was a dutiful daughter to her mother Margaret Julia Kenny with whom she lived in Oak Bay Victoria and then in Vancouver for many years until her mother passed away in 1983.
Irene loved to travel the world and went with friends and her bothers Jack and Jerry on many excursions and pilgrimages to Europe, Palestine, Israel, and America. She especially loved New York and Ireland.
Another passion she shared with her brother Jerry, was collecting antiques. She grew up in a time when Victoria was full of English antique stores and had English traditions such as afternoon tea at the Empress Hotel.
Irene had a sweet tooth all her life and enjoyed many treats from Rogers Chocolates, the Dutch Bakery, and milkshakes from the White Spot while mysteriously never gaining an ounce!
Irene was somewhat dismayed that English traditions slowly disappeared from the Victoria of today and were replaced by American cruise ships taking over every summer, though she still dearly loved her place of birth.
Irene was a devout Catholic all her life and attended St. Andrews Church weekly until the pandemic when she transitioned to watching the religious services directly from the Vatican.
In her final years Irene was greatly helped by her dear friends Cathy Newton and Shaelyn Sinnott.
She is survived by her niece Kathleen Margaret Kenny who will miss their weekly chats via Facetime from London UK to Victoria.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
This obituary is the property of the “Kenny” family and may not be reproduced, distributed, or altered in any way without prior written consent.
Leave Condolence