IRENE MILLICENT BURNET ROWLIN (SMITH)

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IRENE MILLICENT BURNET ROWLIN (nee SMITH) October 19, 1905 - August 20, 2011 Irene passed away in Riverview Health Centre after a short illness on Saturday, August 20, 2011. A well-known teacher of piano, she was predeceased by her parents George and Mary (Burnet) Smith, four stepbrothers, her husband Harry R. Rowlin in 1967, and her brother Maurice Smith in 1985. She is survived by her daughter Frances, sister-in-law Nan Smith and many nieces and nephews in Canada, the United States and Australia. Irene was born in London, England in 1905 and emigrated to Canada in 1914. She spent her life in St. James. In 1928, she became a member of the Manitoba Registered Music Teachers' Association, and served the organization in many capacities. In 1929, together with her husband, she established a studio in St. James teaching violin and piano and throughout succeeding years enjoyed considerable success. During the years 1945 - 1960, she served as organist at two local churches, Deer Lodge United and St. James United. She was a charter member of the St. James Business and Professional Women's Club, president of the Wednesday Morning Musicale in 1948, and in 1962 was elected to the St. James-Assiniboia School Board retiring in 1969. In recognition of her service to the community, she was awarded a Certificate of Merit on the occasion of Manitoba's Centenary in 1970 and in 1978 was nominated an Honorary LIfe member of the M.R.M.T.A. Thank you cannot begin to express the family's gratitude to all the staff at Riverview for their care of Irene during her last days. Also, many thanks to the wonderful staff at Sturgeon Creek Retirement Residence for making Irene's last six years so memorable. To Home Care, both residential and palliative, you were and are amazing, caring people and again thanks cannot being to cover your concern for Irene. Irene willed her body to research and teaching through the University of Manitoba. A memorial service will be held at Sturgeon Creek United Church, 201 Thompson Drive, St. James, on Thursday, September 1, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. with Jeri Bjornson officiating. A reception will follow at Sturgeon Creek Retirement Residence, 10 Hallonquist Drive (across from the Grace Hospital). Flowers are gratefully declined. Those who so desire may contribute to the Winnipeg Humane Society, The Harry Reginald Rowlin Memorial Fund through the Winnipeg Foundation or a charity of their choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 27, 2011