Iris Ferris

Iris Fay Ferris

(nee Everitt)

With her family at her side, Iris Ferris passed away on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba at the age of 63 years.

Iris was predeceased by her husband Carl Ferris, mother Mary (nee Dmytar), father William Everitt, step-mother Doris (nee Brown) Everitt, infant brother Kenneth, brothers-in-law Kel Henry, Ron Black and James Ferris, and sister-in-law Mazo Black.

Left to cherish her memory are her children and grandchildren Collin (Nona), Laurel (Aaron Ross, Aidan and Tate) and Tara (Neil Ferris). She will be missed by her brother Barry (Linda) Everitt, sisters-in law Jean Henry and Flo Kitson, and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Don and Nora Ediger. She will be lovingly remembered by her many nieces and nephews.

Iris was born in Strathclair, Manitoba on March 15, 1947. She grew up on a farm near Newdale, Manitoba and attended school in Newdale and Strathclair. From 1965 to 1968 she attended St. Boniface School of Nursing in Winnipeg, Manitoba, graduating as an R.N. Iris was a practicing R.N. for less than a year before she took on the full time job of farm wife and mother. She married Carl Ferris of Macdonald, Manitoba on November 2, 1968 in Newdale, Manitoba. They celebrated 40 years of marriage in 2008 just before Carl passed away.

As a child, Iris spent many hours playing with her cousins who lived on a farm just across the road. Pictures of her childhood show her participating in 4-H skits, making snowmen, tobogganing and having tea parties. She also made many good friends in nursing school, one of whom became her sister-in-law. After Iris married, she centered her life around her family. There were few times that her and Carl spent apart and they enjoyed doing many things together such as camping in their fifth wheel, golfing and snowshoeing. She ferried her kids to piano practice, 4-H meetings and other activities. Many of her children's friends considered her a second mom.

When her daughters grew up and moved to Calgary she would travel twice a year to visit them and their families. Sunday was a day reserved for suppers with her son and daughter-in-law and often a campfire in the summer. Iris had many interests and hobbies including reading, sewing, scrapbooking, card making, ceramics, gardening, bird watching, quilting and photography.

There were also many outdoor activities she enjoyed such as snowshoeing, biking, walking, camping and golfing. Carl and Iris also went on winter vacations to Cuba, Mexico and Hawaii. Her daughter Tara and her enjoyed shopping together and swapping music and they talked on the phone every day. Iris actively volunteered in her community; as a 4-H leader, for her service club, United Commercial Travelers and she recently had started helping at the Portage Arts Centre hanging art work for shows.

Anyone who knew Iris would say she was a very caring, thoughtful and happy person. She was a good listener and friend. Additionally she was a quiet and private person. You wouldn't hear her complain and she was very grateful for all she had a�" especially her family. Those who knew her better could see her stubbornness when there was something she didn't want to do and her competitiveness when playing games such as Scrabble and Quidler.

There are many people who will miss her dearly and will wish they had more days to spend with her.

Funeral Service will be held at Trinity United Church on Monday, May 10, 2010 at 2:00 pm led by Rev. Beth Kerr. Interment is to follow at Prospect Cemetery.

Please note there will be no viewing or visitation on Sunday evening.

As expressions of sympathy, if friends so wish, donations may be made in Iris's memory to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, c/o In Memoriam Program 700, 10665 Jasper Ave, Edmonton, Alberta, T5J 3S9

A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel who are in care of arrangements. 857-4021 www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com