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With great sadness we say good bye to a mother, grandmother, mentor and friend. Irene Brook (nee Whyte) at the age of 90, passed away on May 17, 2010 at the Golden Hospital.

Irene was raised in Nipiwan, Saskatchewan, living there until the war, when she went to work at a factory in Hamilton, Ont. The end of the war brought her to Calgary, where a weekend trip with friends to the Rockies led her to a charming park warden named Glen Brook. Then & there she traded in her city shoes for a pair of hiking boots.

Irene was proud of her history in the National Parks. As a “Silent Partner” Irene and her husband Glen raised their two sons, Sid and Alex, as a typical district warden’s family of the day. Their first home was a log cabin at Marble Canyon in Kootenay Park. Afterwards they moved to Hector District in Yoho Park and then to Field, where they spent the next fifty plus years.

Irene and Glen’s curiosity and passion were reflected in their love of nature, rocks, travel and of course people. They took many trips around North America in their little van gathering rocks, and later adventures to the Galapagos Islands, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and Egypt.

Irene was a long time resident and Grand Lady to the community of Field. She opened her door and her heart to generations of Fieldites and Field Mice. She was a shoulder to cry on, a surrogate mother to celebrate good news with, and a grandma to cuddle all the new Field babies.

Irene has resided in Golden for the last 3 years and continued to demonstrate her ability to make new friends and maintain long standing friendships with persons all over Canada and the world.

Irene is predeceased by husband Glen and will be lovingly remembered by the family; Sid, Judy and Devon of Golden, Alex, Cathie, Marie-Claire, Hannah and Alastair of Dawson City, cousins, nieces and nephews, as well as many close friends.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at the Golden Hospital for their special care and compassion.

There will be a service at the cemetery in Field, as well as a celebration of a great life passing at the Field Community Hall on May 29, 2010 starting at 2:00 pm at the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that a donation be made to: The Friends of Yoho, Box 100, Field, B.C. V0A 1H0

Messages of condolence may be sent to the family online by visiting www.hindmanbowersfuneralhome.com



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