1939 – 2024
Early in the evening of Wednesday, April 24, 2024, Irene Marie Richards (nee Tessier) passed away peacefully at the age of 84 years, surrounded by her three children and their partners at the Red Deer Hospice.
Irene was born in 1939 in Cereal, Alberta to Norbert and Gertrude Tessier. The family, including younger sister, Thelma and older sister, Rita, moved from Oyen, Alberta to Hanna, Alberta, in 1947.
In 1958, Irene married Andy McCrindle, raising three children as the family moved from Oyen, Stettler, High River and Athabasca. Andy passed after fifty years of marriage in 2008. In 2009, Irene married Alan Richards until his passing in 2016. She was a devoted daughter, sister, wife and mother. Irene was an active community member and supported her children in their many pursuits.
As a result, Irene was active and often a leader in many organizations, including the Brownies and Girl Guides, Air Cadets, and Figure Skating Clubs, for which she made many ice show costumes. She was an avid golfer and curler, and served as Handicaps and Rules Chairman for the Alberta Ladies Golf Association.
When her children began having their own children, she proved to be a doting grandmother to her four grandsons, who looked forward to their annual Boot Camp with her each summer. She set a high standard for parenting and grandparenting. Eventually she became a beloved great grandmother to her five great granddaughters.
Irene was equally beloved by her new family when she married Al. Although she did not get a lot of opportunities, she did love to travel, often with her grown children. Memorable trips included Washington, DC, Baltimore, Toronto, Montreal, New York, a Panama Canal cruise, and her dream trip to Egypt and Jordan, where she went on a camel ride near the Great Pyramids on Christmas Eve.
Irene was a very resourceful and crafty person, making clothes for herself and her children, teaching and operating a ceramics business, painting watercolors, and sewing teddy bears to name a few of her pursuits. Later in her life she became a prolific and expert quilter, lovingly adorning the beds of friends and family. She made everyone’s world a little brighter and more homey. Irene was an enthusiastic cat-person her entire life.
She is lovingly remembered by her son Brian (Kerry Mader) McCrindle, son Terry (Kathy) McCrindle , and her daughter Marianne (Darren Gillanders) Nicholson. She will also be deeply missed by her grandsons, Tanner (Sam), Lane (Kate), Brett (Carina), Bradley (Amy), her great granddaughters Georgia, Presley, Tillie, Nova and Blake, her stepdaughters, Christine and Trudy, her step granddaughter Kari (Craig) and step great grandson Lachlan, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Irene is predeceased by her sisters, Rita Kowitch and Thelma Wilson. We wish to remember Irene for her patience and tolerance, her sharing and generous attitude, her strength and compassion in the face of adversity, and her motto of Always Be Kind to Others. She was a quick and constant friend to so many.
Our family would like to thank the Red Deer Hospice for the kindness and compassion that they showed all of us in her final days.
In keeping with Irene’s wishes no funeral service will be held. If desired, Memorial Donations in Irene’s honor may be made directly to the Whisker Rescue at www.whiskerrescue.com or phone 403.347.1252 for donations by eTransfer at [email protected]. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed at www.heartlandfuneralservices.com. Arrangements in care of: Heartland Funeral Services Ltd., 4415 – 49 Street, Innisfail, Alberta. Phone: 403.227.0006
