Irene Shore

Irene Shore passed away on March 14 in Victoria, BC in hospice after a brave battle with cancer.

Irene was born in Winnipeg on September 3, 1934. Growing up in a large Mennonite family in Niverville, Manitoba, Irene was the third daughter of 5 girls and 2 boys in the Wieler family. It was as part of a family and community which loved music that Irene developed an early love and talent for singing. Following high school in Winnipeg, Irene trained as a teacher. She and sister Anne moved to Nelson House, Manitoba for two years where Irene taught and Anne was a nurse. After Nelson House, Irene and sister Agnes moved to St. Catharines where they taught in local schools. It was in St. Catharines that Irene met and married Carl, and left teaching to raise Christopher, Andrea, and Jennifer. The Shores were active community and Queen Street Baptist church members. Irene was a tireless and optimistic volunteer for church, schools, and the Community Concert Association. She launched many new and still existing programs and ministries, and was recognized by the Canadian Baptists for her work with refugees and those in need globally. Irene was not only an avid singer, but loved golf and skiing.

Irene and Carl moved to Toronto in 1986, and were active members of Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. Grandchildren began arriving while they were living in Toronto, and they became another of the great joys of her life.

Irene and Carl retired to Victoria in 1994, where golf, church, grandchildren, and gracious hosting filled her time and energy.

Throughout her life, Irene was a generous hostess, renowned not only for joy and grace, but also for her delicious meals and especially her pies. Irene loved music, loved singing in choirs throughout her life, and always enjoyed opera from the Met on Saturday afternoons. Her love for music has been passed to her children and grandchildren.

Irene was predeceased by her parents John and Frida Wieler and sister Elfriede. She is survived by Carl, Christopher and Susan, Andrea and Brendan, and Jennifer and Scott. She will be greatly missed by the grandchildren she adored – Andrew, Katrina, Michele, Sam, Louisa, and Cameron – and siblings Agnes, Anne, Bertha, John and Betty, and Fred and Esther, sister-in-law June and John, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.

Irene battled breast cancer starting in January 2013, and was hoping to be cancer free after a year of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Although she lost her hair during cancer treatment, her hair grew back curly and thick – a development she loved and laughingly called her poodle hairdo.

Irene’s cancer returned in late Spring 2015, and after an initial period of uncertainty about what was going on, treatment dramatically shrank the tumor and hope and energy were abundant. By the end of Fall 2015, the cancer stopped responding to treatment. In Fall, nurse Rose entered Irene and Carl’s life, and became a rock of help, encouragement, and life-giving support. Irene’s energy waned through Christmas, when the entire Shore family gathered in Victoria for a time of celebration and memories. Remarkably, Irene’s energy rebounded in January, and she remained strong until her last days. During her last 6 weeks, we noted that Irene’s beautiful spirit had not changed. She loved and admired the beauty of sunrise and sunsets, the spring flowers and blossoms. She loved children and babies, and would stop and speak with them often and with great joy. She remained positive and optimistic, right to the end. She had a song for every circumstance, even to her very last day. She shared love with everyone she could, and brought beauty and joy wherever she went. She remains an example of a life well-lived to those who knew her.

Irene’s last hours were spent with Carl and their daughters Andrea and Jennifer at Victoria Hospice, sustained and helped by nurse Rose and the loving staff who helped Irene during her rapid descent. Irene literally entered heaven to singing, as Jennifer sang to her in her last moments. Irene rallied, raised her arm, and conducted her own musical exit.

Irene’s memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, March 23 at First Baptist Church, Victoria.

Flowers, though lovely, are gratefully declined. If you wish, please consider donating to Victoria Hospice Society, First Baptist Church Victoria, or support a refugee family in your city.

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall’s Funeral Home
www.mcallbros.com