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IRMA ELONORA DERRY (née WARDER)
Born: Mar 22, 1922
Date of Passing: Dec 15, 2019
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IRMA ELONORA DERRY
(née WARDER)
March 22, 1922 - December 15, 2019
Irma grew up in St. Vital and attended Elmwood School until grade eight. She went to work as a waitress at the Marlborough Hotel in downtown Winnipeg. During the Second World War, many servicemen from the Commonwealth and USA were billeted at the Marlborough and one of her co-workers introduced her to John (Jack) Ivan Derij, then Stoker 2nd Class with the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve. They married in 1942.
After the war, Irma and Jack bought a house in Fort Rouge on Garwood Avenue. It was close by to schools, church, and the CNR rail shops where Jack could walk to work. Here they raised their four children and lived until 1976, when Jack retired early and they relocated to their cherished lake front cottage in the Whiteshell, a provincial park in eastern Manitoba.
In 1981, they moved to Courtenay, BC, on Vancouver Island where they built a house in Mountain View Estates. Here they enjoyed a long retirement, worked in their huge vegetable garden, and hosted family and friends from back East. In 2000, Jack suddenly passed away, but Irma continued to live on in her own home until July of this year.
Irma is predeceased by her son Mark Derry (Cheryl) of Winnipeg. She is survived by her daughter Carol Schoenborn (Karl) of Winnipeg, Manitoba, son Vern Derry (Mary) of Miramichi, New Brunswick, and son James Derry (Lewis) of Courtenay, BC. She is also survived by her five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.
The family would like to express their thanks to the medical team at North Vancouver Island Hospital (Comox Valley) and the caring staff at Oceanview, The Views at St. Joseph's in Comox.
A private family service will be held in the spring of 2020, in Winnipeg.
Irma was 97 years old.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 28, 2019
Condolences & Memories (2 entries)
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My fondest memory of Auntie Irma was her contagious laugh. She always had a smile on her face. Uncle Jack and Auntie Irma hosted countless family get togethers with so much food, fun with the cousins and of course I can’t forget...sliding down the great bannister! - Posted by: Audrey Carlson (Niece) on: Dec 28, 2019
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Auntie Irma was such a wonderful lady. She loved her family, and made all her nieces and nephews feel just as loved. My strongest memories were about Christmas. Christmas dinners were her specialty. Auntie Irma made turkey for 13 or more, look easy. She would scoot everyone out of ‘her’ kitchen and get us all settled. Then, Uncle Jack would carve an enormous bird. I think that’s where the children’s table was started. I didn’t care for being at the children’s table at that time, wanting to sit with the adults. Now I prefer it! Auntie Irma knew how much we all loved her. Auntie Irma will always be remembered with love. - Posted by: Judi Broeska (Niece) on: Dec 28, 2019