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HOWARD: Irene
Ruth Howard of Paradise Hill, Saskatchewan passed away on Thursday,
June 11, 2009 at the age of 92 years. Irene is predeceased by: her
parents, Charles and Isabelle Draycott; her seven brothers and seven
sisters; her son, Wendell; her son-in-law, Robert Fester; and her
grandson, Peter Roberts. Irene leaves to mourn her passing: her
daughters, Betty Roberts, Myrtle Fester and Marjorie (Earle) Gilles;
her daughter-in-law, Gertrude Howard; her grandchildren, great
grandchildren and great great grandchildren; her sisters, Mona Kallis
and Leona Cavanaugh; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The Funeral Service was conducted from
the River View Community Church in Frenchman Butte, SK on Thursday,
June 18, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Harvey Penner
officiating.
The honorary bearers were “All of Irene’s
Friends”. The organist was Christine Rose. The eulogy was given
by Myrtle Fester, a tribute was
given by Gertie Howard and a poem
was read by Debbie Gadsby.
Donations in memory of Irene may
be made to the Arthritis Society or to the Paradise Hill Care Home.
Marshall’s Funeral Home Ltd., St. Walburg, Saskatchewan
administered the funeral arrangements.
EULOGY
Irene Ruth
Howard was born January 30, 1917 on the family farm in Fort Pitt,
Saskatchewan.
Irene was the thirteenth child out of seventeen
children born to Isabelle and Charles Draycott, who were some of the
first settlers in the Fort Pitt District. Their home quarter was SE
Section 34, TP 53, Range 26 W3.
She married Fredrick Howard
on September 12, 1939 and they had four children, Betty Roberts,
Myrtle Fester, Marjorie Gilles and Wendell Howard.
We would
like to share some memories of Irene’s childhood taken from a
letter she wrote in 1998. “Mother used to make her own brooms
to sweep the old mud floors of our sod roof house. The larger turkey
feathers from wings and tails were tied together in a big bunch that
was our brooms. Then for the rougher jobs we had a bunch of willow
branches tied tightly together. They made real good brooms. Us girls
and boys knew how to make them and had fun doing that for
Mother.
Times were especially hard, Saturday and Sundays three
or four of us children would go fishing and hunting. Many times our
catch was very heavy for us small children to pack home but we always
made it. In those days game was plentiful (partridge, prairie
chicken, ducks, geese, bush rabbits). Also there were lots of
jackfish in the Old Man Creek west of home and also the Saskatchewan
River. Picking berries along the river hills was enjoyable but we
were not allowed to leave the berry patch until all the pails were
filled..
I can remember as a small child, my Granny telling
us stories about the Fort Pitt Trail, and where a few bodies were
buried, my Mother would never go down there in evenings but in the
daytime it was ok to go. She always said the hills were full of
ghosts but I never did see those ghosts our grandparents spoke
of.
Winters were much longer and the snow much deeper in my
childhood days. Some of my good memories were travelling to school by
toboggan pulled by “Old Dan” with four or five kids on
the toboggan. School Christmas concerts with Dad playing Santa. Many
times next morning Dad would ask, “Who was Santa Claus? And was
he good?”
We never had an idle moment those days; we
children could do any kind of work and were good at everything.
Irene’s early adult life was spent working on farms for
other people. After marriage, Irene took in laundry, boarded local
workers, and provided care for older people. She enjoyed having
people around her and had numerous friends of all ages who enjoyed
her company.
Irene was
always a very independent and outspoken lady. She loved to tell a
good joke and always had an interesting story to tell, usually
followed by a hearty laugh.
Irene resided for 30 years in Frenchman Butte
before moving into Paradise Hill in 1982. In February 2008, Irene
moved into the Care Home in Paradise Hill. Her length of illness was
relatively short and she was a very self-reliant lady previous to
moving to the Care Home.
Irene was active in the Frenchman
Butte Legion, and the senior’s group in Paradise Hill. She
loved to play cribbage and scrabble and of course she always won.
Irene is predeceased by her mother and father, her seven
brothers and seven sisters, her son, Wendell, her son-in-law, Robert
Fester and her grandson, Peter Roberts.
Irene is lovingly remembered and
greatly missed by her daughters, Betty Roberts, Myrtle Fester and
Marjorie (Earle) Gilles; daughter-in-law, Gertie Howard; sisters,
Mona Kallis and Leona Cavanaugh; grandchildren whom she loved dearly,
Kevin (Marlene) Roberts, Shannon (Louis)Bosse, Alan (Laurie )
Roberts, Glen Fester, Debbie (Randy) Gadsby, Elaine Fester, Stephen
(Terry) Gilles, Michael Gilles, Clinton Gilles, Marvin (Anna) Howard,
Cheryl (Jason) Luke; 19 great grandchildren and 8 great great
grandchildren.
CARD OF THANKS
The family of Irene
Howard would like to thank our family, friends and neighbours for
their support and caring.
Thank you to Pastor Harvey Penner
for the lovely service, to Christine Rose for playing the organ, to
Myrtle for giving the eulogy, to Gertie for her tribute, to Debbie
for the poem, to the ladies for the delicious lunch and to Marshall’s
Funeral Home.
Thank you to everyone for the food, flowers and
visits. Your thoughtfulness will always be remembered.
Betty
Roberts, Myrtle Fester and Marjorie & Earle Gilles and Families
  
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