Barbara Irvine

A memorial service will be held at McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at 1:00 pm, led by Rev. Julie Baker. Interment will take place at the Oakville Cemetery.

It is with great sadness that the family of Barbara Irvine announces her passing on January 5, 2022 at the age of 85.

Barbara was born in Jumbo Gardens, an outlying area of Thunder Bay, on August 4, 1936 to her parents Bill and Florence Gamble.  The family moved to Nipigon, Ontario when Barbara was three, after her dad was transferred there as an RCMP officer, and they stayed for seven years.  The family was transferred to Portage when Barbara was about 11, and they set down their permanent roots.  After graduating high school from PCI, Barbara went to normal school in Winnipeg where she earned her teaching credentials. She returned to Portage and taught Grade 5 at Victoria School from 1955 to 1961.

Barbara married Russell Irvine on December 10, 1960 and together they lived on the Irvine family farm in the Mill Creek district north of Oakville where they raised their three children - Marina, Valerie and Rich.  They spent many happy years farming and watching their children grow into adulthood. They enjoyed many visits from extended family from across Canada, United States and from Ireland over the years.  Barbara was a farm wife and stay at home mom, but did enjoy substitute teaching and working part time in the Oakville post office.

After Russell passed away in 1998, Barbara went on to settle in Portage where she landed a job as the Walmart greeter, enjoying her time working there immensely, staying employed until she was 81 years old.  Barbara spent her last few years of life living with dementia and was in care at the Lions Prairie Manor at the time of her passing.  The family would like to extend their thanks to all of the staff for the excellent care she received during her time there.

Barbara very much enjoyed socializing throughout her life and had a great sense of humour with an infectious laugh that will be forever remembered and very sadly missed.

Barbara was predeceased by her parents, Bill and Florence Gamble and her husband Russell, as well as several other family members throughout the years.  Barbara is survived by her beloved son Rich, her daughter Marina and her children, Jordan (Jaylynn), Adam, Vincent and Mikayla, along with her second daughter Valerie and son-in-law Vytas Poskus with their children Tyler (Stephanie) and Holly (Roh).  Barbara is also survived by her brother Bill Gamble and sister-in-law Corinne, sister-in-law Orma Sozansky and brother-in-law Stuart Irvine, along with several nieces, nephews, cousins and family friends.

A memorial service will be held at McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at 1:00 pm, led by Rev. Julie Baker. Interment will take place at the Oakville Cemetery.

If friends so desire, donations may be made in Barb’s memory to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, 40 Royal Road North, Portage la Prairie MB R1N 1V1 or the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, 1379 Kenaston Boulevard Winnipeg, MB R3P 2T5.

A tree will be planted and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel. www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com 204-857-4021