Irene Elizabeth Creber

September 2, 1930 – May 26, 2024

                Irene Elizabeth Creber, beloved wife of the late Fred Creber, passed away on Sunday, May 26, 2024 at the Minnedosa Health Centre.

                Irene was born on September 2, 1930, to Ross and Elizabeth Green in Dauphin. Irene attended school in Ashville to Grade 11. When Irene was 15 her mother died, and Irene became “mother” to three siblings. She taught school for one term before moving to Newdale to complete Grade 12. Fred and Irene married on October 26, 1949. Over the next five years, they were blessed with four children: Carol, Brian, Gordon, and Harold.

                In June 1957, they decided that the small house on the farm was getting too small and the family moved to the “Lavery house” in Newdale. Thus began farming from town. The neighbours thought they were crazy to farm from town, but Fred and Irene were determined to make it work.

                Community involvement included being a member of the Women’s Institute, 4-H leader, and Sunday school teacher for many years. Irene occasionally substituted at the school, and Brian remembers her as the toughest teacher he ever had. She was on the original planning committee and the original board of directors of Harrison House.

                Fred and Irene joined the Newdale Square Dance Club when it was formed in 1969. The love of dancing allowed Fred and Irene to meet many new friends. They travelled across Canada and into the United States (most notably Hawaii) to attend numerous square dance conventions. Being an avid seamstress, Irene sewed all her square dance costumes.

                Irene enjoyed watching her 10 grandchildren grow up. They have many memories of time spent with Grandma. Grandma’s kitchen was always filled with the smell of cookies and cakes as she taught them all how to bake. Even the mistakes tasted GREAT! Card games were a favourite activity with the family, but were only allowed after the work was done.

                More recently, Great-Grandma also enjoyed hearing about her 13 great-grandchildren’s activities. Zoom calls brought the family together, even across the country and around the world.

                Irene was predeceased by her husband, Fred; parents, Ross and Elizabeth; brother, Mervyn; and sister, Darlene.

                Irene leaves to mourn her passing: brother Orland (Barbara) Green; children Carol (Bruce) Dalgarno, Brian (Sandra) Creber, Gordon (Joan Strothard) Creber, Harold (Maggie) Creber and Diane Creber; grandchildren Mike (Teresa) Creber, Andrew (Jennifer) Dalgarno, Jennifer (Roger) Gonsalves, Susan (Oliver Harris) Creber, Karen Dalgarno, Jason (Lawren Moneta) Creber, Nikki (James Phelps) Creber, Jeffrey (Kristen) Creber, Bob Creber and Bill Creber; great-grandchildren Douglas and Daniel Dalgarno; Samantha, Julian and Jackson Gonsalves; Sophie and James Harris; Thacher and Riley Creber; Spencer and Madelyn Phelps; Kayleigh and Addison Boake.

                If friends so desire, donations in memory of Irene may be made to Palliative Care at Minnedosa Health Centre, or Newdale United Church.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, June 8 at 11:00 a.m. in Newdale United Church, Newdale, MB.

White’s Funeral Home in care of arrangements.  www.whitesfh.ca

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