IRENE HILL (BLOWER)

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

IRENE HILL (nee BLOWER) Irene died peacefully at Golden Door Geriatric Centre on Monday, October 31, 2005. She had been feeling poorly for some time with various ailments and she finally lost her appetite for food, and for life. She lived a long and happy 94 years full of good friends, family and many adventures. Irene was born in Nottingham, England in 1911 to James and Elizabeth Blower and immigrated to Saskatoon, SK at age two where her father taught school. She became a secretary and married Robie Hill in 1935 in Winnipeg, made her home and raised her family in River Heights. In 1981 she visited her birthplace with her sons on a very memorable trip to England. Irene's fondest memories would be of her wonderful times at the cottage at Otter Falls, with her many friends and all her family, and of her many travels to Cuba, Mexico, Barbados, Columbia and Hawaii. Irene was master of many things, from seamstress to cook and entertainer, as well as an accomplished carpenter and outboard motor mechanic, and an administrative secretary, there was very little she could not take on and do well. She learned conversational Spanish to volunteer at the Pan Am Games in 1967 and earned an award from the Mayor of Winnipeg for her efforts, and she was a prominent participant in the Home and School movement in the 1960's, hosting a radio show. She was a past President of the Lionelles. She will be sadly missed by her sons, Ken (Joan) Hill and Wally (Vivien) Hill; grandchildren, Geoff (Heather) Hill, Patty Hill and Karen (Heiko) Duehrsen, Judy Hill and Stacey (Chris) Tester; and great-grandchildren, Jack Hill, Adia and Mattias Duerhsen and Heidi and Natasha Tester; and her nephews, John Blower (Deborah) and their sons, Chesney and Kellen, Alan Blower (Helen) and their children, Alana, Darren and Farrah; and niece Irene (Jack) Johnston and their children, Darren and Kristi. Her husband Robie Ernest Hill passed away in 1973 at age 78. Irene was predeceased by her brother Stanley Blower and his wife Patricia. The family would like to thank all the staff at Golden Door Geriatric Centre for their excellent care over the past three years. A memorial service will be held at Neil Bardal Inc., 984 Portage Ave., Aubrey Street entrance on Saturday, November 5 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, 6 Donald St., Winnipeg, MB R3L 0K6. NEIL BARDAL INC. 949-2200

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 03, 2005