Peacefully, at Etobicoke General Hospital on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at the age of 83, after a long illness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Irene was a loving and cherished sister to Nancy, the late Helen (Peter) Gryniewski, and the late Julie (Hank) Igras, as well as a devoted niece to Aunt Wanda Nicowski. Aunty Rene loved and was loved by her nieces and nephews; Diane (Kevin) Gowanlock, David (Maggie) Igras, Irene Gryniewski, Lawrence (Julie) Gryniewski, Matthew (Natalie) Gryniewski and Sylvia (Drew) Gervais.
Cherished by great-nieces and great-nephews Andrew (Michelle), Melissa (Josh), Matthew (Rachael), Jennifer (Spencer), Jason (Sara), Amanda, Aaron, Sarah, Nicholas, and Emily as well as six great-great nieces and great-great nephews.
Predeceased by her parents Mieczyslaw and Jadwiga Nicowski.
Irene will be dearly missed by her long-time friends Maria and Bob Maludzinski, and Don and Karen Dunsmore.
Irene was born in St. Catharines and moved with her family to Windsor and then Toronto in her early years. After graduating from high school, Irene worked for an insurance company and then decided to apply as a mature student to Queen’s University in Kingston. She obtained a degree in geography and then got her first teaching job in Winchester. After getting her teaching degree, she moved to Barrie and taught physical education and geography at Barrie Central Collegiate for more than 30 years, retiring as the head of the physical education department. She was known to be tough yet fair, and enjoyed coaching many school teams including volleyball, basketball, and gymnastics. She also did the choreography for several school musicals.
Aunty Rene enjoyed sharing her passion for cooking by teaching the next generation of the family how to cook. She was known for her amazing mac and cheese, scrumptious potato salad, meatloaf, and many other dishes. Irene was in charge of the yearly family Christmas baking, making, or supervising the bulka, mak (poppy seed roll) and cheese buns, sharing these delicious treats with many lucky recipients. She also enjoyed furniture restoration and watching first her nieces and nephews, then their children, at their sporting and musical performances.
A visitation will be held at the Turner & Porter Peel Chapter, 2180 Hurontario Street, Mississauga on Sunday, August 13 from 3 to 5 p.m. Funeral service will be at the Turner & Porter Peel Chapter on Monday, August 14 at 1 p.m. to be followed by interment at St. John’s Dixie Cemetery, 737 Dundas Street East, Mississauga.
In lieu of flowers, you may wish to donate to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Cancer Society, or to any charity of your choice.
The family would like to thank the wonderful staff of Etobicoke General Hospital who took such good care of Irene.