Obituary of Barbara Ellen Irvine

Our loving mom, Barbara Irvine (nee Rodenberg) passed away peacefully at her home in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on March 10, 2023. She was predeceased by her husband Ray “Skip” Irvine, parents Herman and Linda Rodenberg, as well as sisters Lisette Brown and Elaine Asbjornhus.

Memories of mom will be truly cherished by her sons Rob (Lori), Rick (Davinia), Kelly (Amanda); grandchildren Amanda, Mitch, Steven, Teale, Lucas, Scott, Kallie, and Alexa; five great-grandchildren; her sister Ruth, and brother Wilf (Alice). She also has many nieces, nephews, cousins, and close friends who will remember her fondly.

Mom was born in Kinloch, SK, on February 26th, 1934. She grew up on a bustling family farm with crops, animals, and machinery….and loved all the sights, sounds and smells that came with it. She was very proud of the nearby one-room schoolhouse, but vividly remembered lining her shoes with pages from the Eaton’s catalogue for the cold winter walks. She also attended school in Mission, BC, and had a keen recollection of climbing the 113 (but seemingly endless) Welton Street Stairs each day to get there.

She made her way to Regina and worked for the provincial government where she met wonderful lifelong friends. She was introduced to Raymond Irvine and was taken with his jet-black hair and incredible sense of humour. They married in 1959 and settled in Regina for a few years before finally moving to Saskatoon where they would enjoy their lives raising three busy boys in the wonderful Eastview neighbourhood.

She loved the solitude of the family cabin at Emma Lake, and especially enjoyed watching all the squirrels, birds (and sometimes bears) that would regularly take turns at the feeders.

Her later years were spent comfortably in her condo where family and friends would visit. She never missed her Thursday afternoon hair appointment with Brenda and Brenda, and if there was a golf tournament on TV, or better yet, Polkarama, then you would have had a really difficult time prying her out of her favourite chair.

A private burial with her immediate family will occur in the spring. She will be laid to rest with relatives at the Kelvingrove cemetery in Kelvington. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to SaskAbilities. Like many seniors in Saskatchewan, she utilized their services and would be happy to know that others could benefit as well.

https://www.saskabilities.ca/get-involved/ways-to-give/

Family and friends are more than welcome to leave tributes and memories.