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
17 Responses
Andrea and Jennifer,
Thank you for sharing your mom’s story and wonderful life and for the experience of helping you pick out dresses fashionable enough for her service. I think she will be impressed although I’m sure she would be proud of you both regardless.
She reminds me of my own mom who was also Irene, loved to sing, was eternally optimistic and died from primary breast cancer. Such parallels!
Thinking of you,
Ellie Matheson
Dear Jennifer,
So sorry to hear of your mother’s struggles and passing. You have been in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you for this loving account of your beautiful mother. She sounded like a wonderful lady. We are coming up to the one year anniversary of my dad’s death. He sang bass almost all his life in some kind of choir. I like to think our parents will find each other , and praise God together in song. Sending you all hugs.
Christine Buzan ❤️
Dearest Andrea and family,
I loved reading this nice memorial to your mom. . . now I know why you were so kind, you had a great example to follow. May God grant you the comfort and good memories at this time and in the months to follow. I’m sending you a BIG HUG and you will be in my thoughts and prayers as you journey on life’s path without her.
Andrea and Family:
After reading the wonderful tribute to your mom I now know where your warmth, generosity and hospitality came from. You gave our son a home, not just a place to stay, when he needed it. It is hard to lose a parent but there is a kind of peace that comes with knowing that there will be no more pain or suffering. As time goes on you will see her at times when you least expect it and the heartache will gradually be replaced with the wonderful memories that you will always have with you. You, your children, your siblings and their children will become like mirrors of the many different and wonderful attributes your mom possessed. Take heart in knowing that others feel and share what you are going through. Our deepest sympathy to all.
Janice, Terry and Tyler Young
St. John’s, NL
Dear Jennifer and Scott,
Thinking of you, Michele, Sam and all your family during this sad time. I hope you find peace and comfort in the wonderful memories you all have of your mom and grandma.
Take good care of each other while you spend this special family time with loved ones.
Chris
Dear Chris and the Shore family members. Please accept our heartfelt sympathy. May her soul rest in peace and may the good Lord give each one of you the strength and courage to bear this terrible loss. She is now resting peacefully in God’s arms. Walter and June
Our family sends sincere condolences to your entire family. Your mom was a rock in our midst…principled, self disciplined, hard working and kind. She believed in giving her all and giving her best. As a church family, we were so fortunate to have had her example and witness among us. Sending hugs to you in memory of a very special person.
Jennifer, words cannot express how I felt reading this. I cried, she sounds like a lady who loved and was loved by all. Take comfort in the years you had her and embrace and carry forward her spirit and zest for life and family. My thoughts are with you and yours.
Joanne Mattson
I never had the pleasure of meeting Irene. However, I do know her son Chris very well. His love and concern for his mother was intense and sincere. Her spirit and concern for those less fortunate is evident in Chris’s life. I have to believe that Irene’s example had a profound effect on the trajectory of his life and, by extension, the lives of thousands around the world.
Chris, you and your family have our prayers and sincere condolences. May you also share the joy that comes from wittnessing a life well lived. May Irene’s life and he faith provide strength to all those who knew and loved her.
So sorry to hear of Irene’s death. She was a wonderful woman I met at Yorkminster Park in Toronto. Irene made a huge impact with her participation on The Sharing Way committee at Canadian Baptist Ministries and had a very caring heart for others. My life is richer for knowing Irene.