Obituaries

IRENE RENAUD
It is with profound sorrow that we, the loving family of Irene Catherine Renaud (n?e Rebiffe) bid a final farewell to our beloved wife, sister, mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother. After a 33 month battle, Irene Renaud passed away quietly surrounded by her loving family on October 5, 2015.
Irene, the daughter of Cora Braun, was born on December 22, 1933 in Winnipeg. Childhood years on the family farm at Fisher Branch bred in her a hardy work ethic and a life-long love of horses. She attended Kelvin High School, where she excelled in athletics, and gave early indications of her leadership skills as a member of the student council. Her rare beauty prompted numerous offers of modelling work and beauty pageant accolades but it was her keen intellect and strong will which led her on a very different path. For many years, Irene worked as a Dental Nurse, advancing to an executive position with the Dental Nurses Association of Winnipeg. Again, she chose another path when she met the love of her life, Maurice Renaud. They married in 1954 and together they raised three boys: Kerry, Randall, and the youngest, Ritchie. However, Irene still desired a working career of her own, and became a hostess (agent) for the company Welcome Wagon. This launched a 30-year career in which her remarkable leadership and managerial skills took her to the very top in the company, eventually becoming the President and CEO. She was the longest serving Chairman of the Board in the company’s 85-year history in Canada. And in 1992, during the Canadian 125th anniversary celebrations, she was awarded the Governor General’s Medal for significant contributions to community and country. Yet, despite the demands of her executive position, Irene never failed to celebrate life — loving to try new restaurants and travel the world. From Vancouver to Venezuela, Hawaii to Hong Kong, Bali to Italy, and many, many points in between. Her favourite annual destination was Marco Island, Florida, where she and husband Maurice spent tranquil winters together along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. Irene’s other favourite place to be was her own garden — a summer oasis that embodied all of her many qualities: the love and gentle care she showed as a mother; her expert organizational and maintenance skills; and the beauty and grace she showed throughout her life. Irene always showed unique abilities to take on challenges and was the one to whom both family and co-workers would turn to solve problems. She was a woman of impressive strength and pride, and even when medical professionals gave her the dire news of her leukemia, she never let it defeat her spirit. Nor would she allow others around her to despair. She merely turned her remarkable resolve to accomplishing unfinished tasks, and far outlived the life expectancy average.
Irene leaves behind to cherish her memory a grieving but proud family, her husband of 61 years, Maurice, her sons Kerry (Joanne), Randall, and Ritchie (Jennifer), her sister Diane (Mike), as well as grandchildren Matthew (Dayna), Taylor, and Ryan, and nieces Lorraine, Bonnie, and Susan.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Houston and Barb Hues as well as Dr. Pat Harris for their care. Also sincere thanks to the nurses and staff at CancerCare Manitoba, and Dr. St. Godard and the rest of the amazing, compassionate staff at St. Boniface Hospital Palliative.
No formal service is planned in accordance with her wishes.
In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to CancerCare Manitoba.

The great secret of death, and perhaps its deeper connection with us, is this: that, in taking from us a being we have loved and venerated, death does not wound us without, at the same time, lifting us toward a more perfect understanding of this being and of ourselves.
Rainer Maria Rilke January 23, 1924