Tag: Irene

Rosalie Irene Tennison

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Star Bright, Star Light
I wish I may, I wish I might
Have the wish, I wish tonight!
Please send me a Little Sister!

I got my wish when Rosalie Irene Tennison arrived 11 February 1958. Tragically Rosalie left me on 22 November 2025.

Rosalie was predeceased by her Father, Sgt Daniel Tennison, WW II and her Mother, Naomi Tennison, [Rosalie honoured her Mother with her book “Naomi’s Houses”], her husband, Robert Whitelaw, her baby brother Gareth, her big brother Edward, nephew Chad, Aunts Jean [William], Irene [Allan] Uncle Henry, Grandparents Harley and Iva and Cousin Harley.

Rosalie is survived by her Big Sister Lynette, her step son Jay [Jennie] and was proud Gram to Logan and Mackenzie, her nieces Tracy [Greg], Shelly, and nephew Scott [Angie], sister in law Connie, great nieces Carissa, Ella and Chloe, Great nephews Jamison, Seth and Charlie, Uncle William, her cousins Dorothy, Cynthia, Barbara [John], Patricia [Barry], Dianne [Ken], Vern [Mary Anne] and Twila.

Rosalie has too many friends to list. Rosalie always maintained her friends near and far with her letters and cards. Rosalie kept in touch with her Manitoba friends when she married Bob and moved to Ontario. Once Rosalie returned to Manitoba, she began her busy schedule. Rosalie would buy two tickets to the theatre, musicals and other cultural activities so she could take a Friend. Rosalie and her friends were always making memories.

Rosalie loved to travel and left behind two cruises to Brazil and Portugal. Rosalie made many trips to spend time with our Pennsylvania cousins. Now Rosalie is on a new journey and I am sure Big Brother Edward met her with one of his pranks.

Rosalie started her life in Bowsman, Manitoba. Her first school was a one room classroom. Her Father passed away when she was in Grade One and the Family moved to Swan River, Manitoba. She completed her High School in Swan River, then on to Carleton University to get her University Degree that started her writing career.

Rosalie had a variety of jobs. She started at Domo [Gas Bar], jobs in Ottawa to pay for her University, Residential School and then she began her writing career.

Rosalie quietly bore the false accusations of the Canadian Parliament and Canadian public that she abused the cute little girls she cared for at the residential school.

Rosalie started her writing career at “Grain News” in Winnipeg, moved to the “Valley Leader” newspaper in Carman, Radio Announcer at CFAM in Altona, “WFCD Communicator” magazine in Brandon, and the Communications Department at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences.

Once Rosalie returned to Manitoba from Carlton University, she declared she would never move back to Ontario. Rosalie crossed paths with Bob when she worked at the “WECD Communicator”. After Bob got Rosalie’s Family approval. They were married. There was one problem. Rosalie was a Winnipeg Jets fan. Bob was strictly a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. Brother Edward and Bob Jr. solved the problem. At their wedding Rosalie and Bob were presented with hockey jerseys.
The Jets and Maple Leaf logos were switched on the respective jerseys. When they attended hockey games, the camera would flash the picture of their altered jerseys across the television screen. Never say never, because Rosalie moved back to Ontario. Her Free Lance Career started. Many of her articles are still on the internet.

Rosalie told her Mother as soon as she could “scribble” that she was going to write a book. Her final accomplishment was publishing her book “Naomi’s Houses” to honour our Mother. A great thank you to Heritage House Publishing who granted Rosalie her final accomplishment.

Rosalie was born a Big Girl. She had to do what the Big Kids [Lynette and Edward] were doing. Before the age of six she helped paint the wall with her little paint brush that she declared was “too” small. Lynette was knitting, so her Daddy made Rosalie little needles so she could learn to knit. Rosalie surpassed Lynette in knitting skills. Rosalie left many unfinished knitting projects. Some were for gifts. Rosalie always had a “stash” of bed socks to give to Friends who were sick. Rosalie started with Four H and became a prolific sewer. She made her own clothes, quilts and items for the church she attended. The last church to benefit with her sewing skills is The Parish Church of St Luke in Winnipeg.

Friends were a very important part of her life. She managed to weave all of you into her “busy” schedule. I thank each of you for being flexible as she checked her calendar for some free time just for you. Far away friends were just as important as she sent out letters, cards and small gifts. Just before Rosalie crossed the street, she stopped at the drugstore to pick up her Christmas stamps so those far away would get her annual Christmas letter.

One paragraph would tell her friends about her final accomplishment. She finally, published her first book “Naomi’s Houses”. A tribute to her Mother, Naomi.

Now I have to said good bye! ! !

A Celebration of Life is planned for July 11, 2026 at the Best Western Plus, 1715 Wellington Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The Family will then travel to Bowsman, Manitoba for Rosalie’s internment in the Family Plot on July 13, 2026. Again, when it is closer to the date contact a Family member for details once they are finalized.

In Rosalie’s memory, follow her lead of helping others. This can be paying it forward, helping the elderly, and her best attribute of surprising friends with a small gift. Rosalie was always finding unique and sometime humorous chocolate items to send to various Friends. In Rosalie’s memory9 continue her kindness with your Family, Friends and Strangers.

In closing, I will share a poem written by my Little Sister Rosalie as a gift to me. This poem was written [1979] and gifted it to me in a frame with her picture.

To take a picture is to steal a part of the soul.
Therefore imagine
That in your hand you hold a fragment of my Spirit
And think
That tho’ I am not near you, I am sending part of myself
And so
By looking at me, in spirit we are together, and our souls unite
Whereby you will know,
That I think of you often
And you will feel
That I love you
And you will understand
How much I miss You!

Family and friends are invited to share memories and condolences on Rosalie’s memorial page using the comment field below.

Irene Alma Hebert (Updated)

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February 28, 1940 – July 4, 2024

On Thursday, July 4th, we lost the matriarch of our family, Irene Hebert at the age of 84.

Irene was born in Transcona on February 29, 1940.  She was a good student and a voracious reader. She met Aime who was working for her dad, and they began dating in the mid-fifties.  Their wedding was a lavish affair at St. Boniface Basilica in June 1958.  They resided in Transcona, and Windsor Park as a young couple.  They raised their boys in Lorette and Ste. Anne and later moved to Selkirk.

She was an entrepreneur throughout her life having owned and operated an eclectic collection of businesses including secretarial placement, a motel/gas bar, income tax prep, family counselling and retail sales.  She took great joy in performing as a wedding officiant and great pride in Bonded Health and Mobility.

Mom was committed to every community she lived or worked in.  She was involved in Girl Guides and Scouts, the Huntington Indy Go-Kart Challenge, Cancer Walk as well as Selkirk’s Handi-Bus, Food Bank, Team for At-Risk Teens program and Holiday Alley.   She also opened her home to international students from India and Thailand.

She was very proud of her Metis heritage so was a huge advocate and supporter of indigenous programs and affairs.

Irene is predeceased by her parents Ed and Mae Nadeau, brothers Eddy, Andy, Fred, nephew Murray, grandson (her luky-luke) Lucas McDonald and her eternal love, husband Aime who we know met her with open arms.

She is survived by sisters Helen Stiller and Alice Groot (Tom), sons Patrick (Cher), Philip (Doreen), Brad, Greg (Wendy) and Terry (Dawn).  Irene adored her grandchildren Nick (Diana), Shane (Robyn), Danielle (Caleb), Jasmin, Tamara (Jack), Alexandra, Amelia, Arden and Jesse and was so proud to be great-grandma to Addison, Kennedy, Quinn, Ivy, Peter, Preston, and Percy.  Irene also leaves seven nieces, a nephew, their children and grandchildren. Last but nowhere near least, Nicole Cinq-Mars her beloved friend, confidant, side-kick, nurse and cousin who was more like a daughter.

And if that wasn’t enough, her heart had room for honorary children Rob Cox, Alexis Cinq-Mars and Matthew Pringle whom she loved dearly.

Mom was a good friend and in turn, she had many.   We could not end this memorial without mentioning the people who were so important to her.  Long-time friends Susan McComb, Sigrid & Don Zueff and family, Linda and Jim McIntosh, workers and friends Debbie McCuaig and Phoebe Thomas, and close friends in business and life Brett Mitchell , Larry Patzer and Rick Kotaska.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 18th at 2 pm at the Selkirk Legion, 403 Eveline Street.

Family and friends are invited to share memories and condolences on Irene’s memorial page using the comment field below.

Irene Tataryn – nee Graboweski

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It is with joy and sadness that our family announces our beloved mother, Irene Tataryn, went home to be with her lord on August 3rd, 2023, passing at Donwood Personal Care Home in Winnipeg. In the days preceding her passing, she spent it in the loving presence of her family.

Irene leaves to mourn her children, Joe (Natalie), Paul (Wendy), Linda (Dalton), grandchildren Joshua, Michael, Christopher and Sara, sister-in-law Marie Graboweski, numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was predeceased by her husband Fred, parents Edward and Josephine, sister Adeline, brothers Emil (Nellie), Frank Graboweski, brothers-in-law Bill (Mary), Mike (Minnie), Nick (Doris), Harry (Kay) Tataryn, grandchildren Jesse Fredericks and Ashley Tataryn.

Mom was born January 28th, 1936, in Sandy Hook, MB.  The daughter of Polish immigrants, she was raised on a farm milking cows, making cream and caring for the chickens, turkeys, and pigs. She had many great childhood memories growing up with her protective older brothers Emil and Frank, attending school in Husavik and Kjarna.

At 19 years of age, Irene moved to Winnipeg living on her own in a rooming house with a hotplate, tiny refrigerator, and no washroom in her apartment. She attended Manitoba Technical Institute studying typing, comptometry, stenography and English. Her first job was at CCM running the order desk. In 1958 Mom and Dad wed and together raised their children in Hodgson, Fisher Branch, and later in Winnipeg. Irene supported her husband’s entrepreneurial pursuits, the Royal Hotel and Royal Motors in Hodgson , MB, the Royal George Hotel in Transcona, Royal Sports Shop, and Royal Ice Cream in East Kildonan, Winnipeg. When her children became teenagers Mom went to work at The Bay Kildonan Place, in the hardware department. She became affectionately known as the “Bay Lady” and along with other women of our community ran that Bay hardware department like never before. Irene learned to use a computer in the technology’s formative years. That store never again experienced the efficiency of mom and her gang of workers. More deals on lawnmowers in the Morse Place community were never had again!!!

Irene’s greatest joy was her family. She embraced her call to the Catholic vocation of motherhood and marriage. She was a dedicated homemaker for her 3 children and husband.  Mom was an amazing cook, making everything from scratch including all our ethnic delights such as holopchi, pyrohy, nalysnyky, pyrizhky, and more. Irene took pride in her home and immersed herself in the community of Morse Place creating an amazing network of wonderful friends who became like family. Mom, together with Dad created a “magical“ childhood for us, full of sports, lake and farm memories, trips, church, parties, and family gatherings. She instilled a work ethic with discipline that prepared us for the world to come. Mom also brought her mother’s sister, Auntie Francis Dobros into our home when Auntie was widowed, and mom became a caregiver for many years.

Mom loved Falcon Lake and enjoyed 40 years of camping, cottage and lake life with Dad and the family. The cottage was a great source of pride for her.  It was in this time that she learned to play golf from Dad. Mom was always an active and health-oriented person. She loved to walk but was game for almost all things active like curling, water and cross-country skiing , biking, skating, Tai-Chi, gym workouts and mall walking.

Irene spoke both Polish and Ukrainian.  She loved music particularly country, country gospel, and the old-time spirituals hymns. She loved weddings, dancing, and family get togethers. She was interested in local history, nostalgia, and her friends!! Going for coffee, going for lunch or supper, it didn’t matter. Her friends were the world to her.

After the sudden passing of Dad in 2001, mom started a new chapter in her life living independently until the last 18 months. She loved her time in a beautiful condominium apartment in Kildonan Meadows Transcona playing cards, visiting, or watching and feeding the ducks and geese. She traveled to China and many other exotic destinations. Mom was adventurous and curious but mostly she was buoyed by her grandboys, who she followed in all their athletic pursuits, such as hockey, football, lacrosse, basketball, and baseball. She had a special relationship with her late grandson Jesse and enjoyed card games, impromptu visits and having a deep and meaningful conversation with him.

The final chapter of mom’s life was arduous. Vitality was replaced with infirmary, but mom worked through her challenges and maintained a beautiful dignity up until her passing. This was confirmed by the staff at Donwood Personal Care Home. Many of her caregivers spoke such kind words about her time there. Mom was well looked after, and she was appreciative of the care she received in her new home. Our family wishes to thank all the caregivers, staff, and administrators at Donwood for their service to our mother.

A funeral service, celebration of life will be held on September 6th, 2023, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 288 Donwood Drive at 11:00 with Father Anthony Austin, officiating.  Cremation will occur followed by a private family internment at Green Acres Cemetery where she will be laid to rest alongside her late husband, Fred.

In lieu of flowers the family request a donation of food stuffs or monies payable to the “Holy Redeemer Catholic Church” – Food Bank.

Family and Friends are invited to share memories and condolences on Irene’s memorial page, by using the comment field below.

Irene Salmon

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Suddenly on January 2, 2022, Irene passed away.

She was born in Dundee, Scotland and came to Canada in 1967.

Irene is survived by her loving husband of 53 years, Art, sons; Scott and Neal (Nanette); daughter Shirley (Tony), sister-in-law, Gail; nieces; Kirsty, Kaily, Allison and Gail; nephews Craig and Douglas and grandchildren Liam and Carson.

As per Irene’s wishes, no service will be held.

Special thanks to the ambulance and emergency crew who tried to revive Irene.

May God bless you all.

Friends and family are invited to share memories and condolences using the comment field below.