IRENE EMMA HOWARD

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IRENE EMMA HOWARD (nee MILLER) It is with saddened hearts that we announce the passing of Irene Emma on February 18, 2015 at the age of 82, after a short battle with cancer. Irene was predeceased by her parents, Clyde and Anne Miller; brothers, Allan (Sylvia), Wayne and Clifford Miller; brother-in-law Ron Skolny; nieces, Irene-Ann Miller and Beverly Tait. Survived by husband Kenneth Howard, his children, Rosalyn (Angus), Laurel (David) of Winnipeg and their children, James, Althea, Graeme, Zander and Elena, for whom Irene was a beloved Granny. Loving sister to Betty (Guy) Purcell, Thunder Bay, ON; Connie (Albert) Axell, Cold Lake, AB; Shirley (Len) Ogilvie, Gimli, MB; Verda (Herman) Isfjord, Gimli, MB; Fred (Vicki) Miller, Cold Lake, AB; Dolores Skolny, Gimli, MB; in-laws, Lou (Hyacinthe) Howard; Claire (Harold) Lee and Shirley (Greg) Thompson; two aunties, Cecilia (John) Glowa of Winnipeg and Helen Schwartz of Victoria, BC and Lilja Melsted, Irene's forever friend. She will be missed by her many nieces, nephews, great and great-great-nieces and nephews. Special thanks to nieces, Carla (Viola), Natalie and Rosalind, and their families for always being there. Irene was born September 10, 1932 in Starbuck, MB, and in 1942 the family moved to Gimli, MB. Irene was interested in sports in high school but left school to work in Winnipeg for a few years. Unfortunately a tragic car accident on Sandy Hook curves December 24, 1953 left Irene a paraplegic at the age of 21. Her injuries were extensive and she remained in hospital until April 1955. Irene was now permanently confined to a wheelchair. A secretarial course at M.T.I. resulted in a job at B.A. Robinson Electrical in 1960, where she remained for 25 years as receptionist/switchboard operator. Irene had to take a taxi to and from work because handi-vans were not the norm back then. B.A. Robinson, his family and extended family (employees) all helped and encouraged Irene in many ways (Thank You). Irene eventually became very involved in paraplegic sports. In the 1967 Winnipeg Paraplegic Pan-Am Games, Irene won one Gold, one Silver and three Bronze medals. In the Centennial Wheelchair games in Montreal in 1967, she was chosen as Outstanding Wheelchair Athlete of the games, where she won four more medals. On March 20, 1968, she won the Errick F. Willis trophy for the outstanding Woman Athlete of the year for Manitoba. Following this in May 1968, she was honoured by her hometown of Gimli with an "Irene Miller Night", where many political leaders spoke of Irene's accomplishments. Irene was also proud to be presented with a key to the town of Gimli and have a sports trophy named after her that is still being presented each year at the Gimli High School. Irene played basketball from her wheelchair and won medals in javelin, shot-put, discus, swimming and archery. She travelled across Canada and to Jamaica and Israel to compete in these games. Irene was also a mentor to several other paraplegics encouraging them to try out for sports or just forge ahead with life. She belonged to the Independent Order of Foresters, the Alpha Iota Sorority, the Manitoba Wheelchair and Rec. Club and the Canadian Paraplegic Association, and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Paraplegic Association. Irene married Ken Howard in 1976 and together they lived in Winnipeg. Work, family, friends, yard and flower beds kept them busy but most summer weekends were spent in Gimli. Good times. Irene loved nice things whether it was flower beds, clothes or jewellry. So, yes, she was probably the lady with the long blonde (then white hair) in the wheelchair you saw at Polo Park or at antique sales. She was usually accompanied by one, two or three of her sisters. (We were probably the bling sisters before bling was popular.) Special times for us were at Moxie's, where we would order the appetizer platter and a white chocolate brownie. Even when no one found anything to buy. Lunch was special. Irene had more than her share of health problems, kidney stones, gallstones, broken legs, bedsores due to being a paraplegic but she had an immune system to envy. Seldom a flu or bad cold. Even in bed due to an operation or bedsore, she put her make-up on, got dressed and looked marvelous and of course her long hair always curled and looking great as well. In the spring of 2011, Irene moved in with her sister Dolores. In the fall of 2011, Irene had a second surgery for a nasty bedsore and February 2013, she received a pacemaker. Irene was in Betel Selkirk from May 2013 to February 2014, then transferred to the Gimli Betel. She met many wonderful residents and staff. Thank you to everyone who took the time to talk to Irene and get to know her. Thank you to all the doctors, nurses and Home-Care in Winnipeg, Selkirk, and Gimli. She was a special lady who deserved the special attention. Donations can be made to the Manitoba Paraplegia Foundation, Inc., 2nd Floor, 825 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg, MB R3A 1M5. A celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the Waterfront Centre, 94-1st Avenue, Gimli, MB. NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE 204-949-2200 neilbardalinc.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 09, 2015