Irene French

June 5, 1938 ~ February 12, 2023

Irene Anna French passed away in Medicine Hat on Sunday, February 12, 2023, at the age of 84. Irene was born to John and Mollie Stovka on their farm south of Vidora, SK., on June 5, 1938. The family later moved to the village of Vidora and then to a farm north of Consul, SK. Irene took her schooling in Vidora as well as one year at Washington State when she was 13 before attending high school in Consul. When she was done school, she moved to Maple Creek where she worked as a telephone operator. She and John French eloped to Havre, Montana on December 22, 1956. When they were first married, they lived in a road construction camp near Eastend, where Johnnie worked and then relocated to Consul where they stayed until 1998. Irene worked as a telephone operator for Dorothy Hester and later Agnes Johnson. In 1972, she became the Consul Postmaster, a position she held for over 25 years. In her early years, she played ball with the Consul Ladies and was an avid curler, winning many bonspiels in the surrounding area. She was a self-taught cook, seamstress and knitter, excelling at all of them. She also could be considered a finishing carpenter, finishing jobs around the house that Johnnie started. Irene and Johnnie had two children: Gloria Lynn and Kenneth Gordon. She sewed many skating costumes for Gloria and watched many of Ken’s hockey games. She was a devoted and loving mother, and later on, grandmother. In 1998, Johnnie and Irene retired and moved to Medicine Hat where they regularly enjoyed having coffee at the mall. If their kids came from out of town to visit, they knew that at 3:00 p.m., that’s where you would find them. They also enjoyed visiting the casino. Irene blamed Johnnie for this, but she liked to gamble a little herself. Irene was a devoted caregiver to Johnnie, first at home and then later when he moved to Good Sam’s. After Johnnie passed away, she spent a few years at home before moving to assisted living at Good Samaritan Village. Four months ago, she moved to the Riverview Care Facility. Along with Johnnie, Irene was predeceased by two great-grandsons, Bodhi and Anthony Kinch; her parents; four brothers, Leslie, Larry, Dale and Don as well as one sister, Betty. She was also predeceased by her brothers-in-law, Paddy and Joe French; sister-in-law, Annie and brother-in-law, Bill Hackman. Irene is survived by her children, Gloria (Duane) Illerbrun and Ken (Brenda) French; Gloria’s children, Stephanie (Travis) Nelson, Melanie (Kyle) Stevenson and Kendra (Alex) Kinch; Ken’s children, Jeff (Jessica) French and Blaine (Lissette) French as well as her great-grandchildren, Ava, Sadie, Mia, Karis, Declin, Lexi, Hannah, Emma, Wyatt, Nora, Waylon, Gunner, Hank and Cliff. She is also survived by her sisters, Mary (John) Chuckry, Barb Hackman and Sherrill (Gerry) Kuckartz; sisters-in-law, Saloma French, Carol Stovka and Eva Stovka as well as several nieces and nephews. Family wish to express their appreciation to the staff at Riverview Care Centre for the kind and professional care provided to their mother over the past 4 months. The Celebration of Irene’s life will be held at Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13 Street S.W., Medicine Hat on Friday, February 24, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. with Father Francis Tran officiating. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery with a time of fellowship thereafter in the Cook Southland Reception Facility. (Condolences may be expressed through visiting www.cooksouthland.com)  Honoured to serve the family is Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, Crematorium & Reception Facility, 901 – 13 Street S.W., Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 4V4.  Telephone:  403-527-6455 or toll free at:  1-877-528-6455.

• Date : 2023-02-12
• Location : Medicine Hat, Alberta

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