With sadness, love and profound gratitude the family of Irene Brennert announces her passing in Powell River, BC.
She was born on February 3, 1941 in Stockholm, Sweden, where she grew up, met Hans and married him in 1963. In 1965, they made the decision to try life in Canada and immigrated to Port Alberni, BC, where Hans was employed at the pulp and paper mill.
Irene began to establish a life for them, learning English and immersing herself in a new culture. Eventually she began to use her talents as a trained seamstress to teach evening sewing classes, even sailing on the Lady Rose to Bamfield to share her knowledge with the women there.
In 1967, Irene and Hans began a family with the birth of Christina, followed by Helena in 1968 and Peter in 1969. Irene continued with her sewing lessons and began a morning play group for young children and soon after gymnastic lessons. She continued to challenge herself by achieving coaching status in gymnastics, later putting these skills to use at the Port Alberni gymnastics club. Irene also supported her children in figure skating and dance, sewing many costumes for their performances.
Then came a move to Powell River in 1978, where new adventures and opportunities to contribute to her community awaited Irene. Her sewing classes continued and since dance classes and gymnastics did not exist, Irene found a dance teacher from Courtenay, which led to her and a group of parents forming the Powell River School of Dance Society, whose legacy lives on today through the Laszlo Tomasik Dance Academy.
She chose to coach gymnastics to the youth of the community herself, and Irene really appreciated when her now adult students would get in touch with her. Irene’s great fondness for blackberries and connecting with people led her and Hans to be a part of the committee that started the Blackberry Festival in 1993.
Most of all, Irene loved to be with her family, her pets and her garden. She was the hub of all our activities, including Sunday hikes, camping, ski trips that included her four grandchildren, summer vacations to Sweden to be with family there and a memorable trip to Disneyland.
She supported everything we did, from delivering newspapers in the early morning to school events such as hot lunches and fundraising. Through the years she loved five dogs, four cats, two chickens, a hamster and various fish, and although love may not have been what she felt for the deer and bears that visited her garden, she generously shared with them.
Irene’s impact on the community of Powell River was great. She was kind, generous, caring, determined and resilient until her final day of life. She was blessed with the friendship of many, and our family will forever be grateful for the support they gave her, and us.
The last days of Irene’s life were spent surrounded by her family, full of love and reminiscing about our rich life together. She will be deeply missed by her husband Hans and their children Christina (Wayne), Helena (Darren) and Peter, and her four grandchildren Madee, Max, Ella and Nick. She leaves behind family in Sweden, including her brother, sisters and brothers-in-law, many special nieces and nephews, and cousins.
Our family wishes to express our sincere gratitude to the doctors, nurses and health-care professionals who cared for Irene during the last part of her life.
A celebration of life will take place at 2 pm on Sunday, April 30, at Powell River United Church.
