Obituary of Irene Rose Falvey

Irene Rose Falvey, 75 of Upper Kingsburg, passed away peacefully in her home on October 15, 2019. She was the daughter of the late Albert and Beulah (Zinck) Oxner.

Irene is survived by her devoted husband, Richard Falvey of Upper Kingsburg; son James Falvey of Bridgewater; daughter Selena (Kevin Nadeau) Falvey of Hammonds Plains; sister Jean (Gordon) Friars of Quispamsis, NB; and grandchildren Olivia and Declan Thurier.

My mother was a special person to so many people. Rather than a general obituary notice, I wanted to write something special for her. I decided to reach out to several family members and friends to ask them to send me a few descriptive words that they would use to describe my mother, Irene. It was no surprise that many of them were the same. Here, then, is a collection of the beautiful words people shared with me:

• Kind, warm, authentic
• A self-taught horticulturalist inspired by the beauty of nature and her prized begonias
• Generous, thoughtful, loved to work in her flower gardens, loved to pick berries with her sister
• Kind hearted, caring, very smart—could name every plant by its scientific name and their characteristics, loved nature and was a huge help during the Swiss Air Recovery
• When I think of your mom, when I was a kid, I think most of her beautiful flowers and the patience and creativity it took to grow them so nice. And she was always kind to me and tolerant even though I was such a weird kid.
• She was a cheerful and busy mom, wife, and sister-in-law, and a wonderfully natural gardener, possessing a truly green thumb. I remember she was a demon at picking berries, too.
• What comes to mind immediately is, “My sis’, a wonderful sister-in-law! I will always remember the good times we had together & her laugh.”
• I always remember the heavy scents and smells of the hothouse behind your place. Irene walked me through and gave me a tour once. I remember how she'd painstakingly tend to all of her plants and nourish things to grow and thrive. I remember the gardens and plants all around were so beautiful. One word would be “nurturer.” I remember how your Mom would walk by the house when I used to live in the little schoolhouse. I remember how she usually had a partner and they would be talking and chatting away together. I would always try to find a reason to sit on the step and wait for them to come back down… She would always, ALWAYS, have something kind to say. So, I guess, “kindness” would be my second word.
• Irene was a great and valued addition to the Hunter Road gang. She opened her cottage for many themed and occasional parties. A very well-put-together lady who welcomed you into her cottage with open arms and always had a food goodie ready to serve, or she could whip something up for you in no time flat. Her dilled broccoli was a favorite and she was always ready to share her recipes with those that wanted them.
• She will always be warmly remembered and never forgotten. May she rest in peace.
• The twinkle in her eye that always seemed to be there ... her happy, loving and caring nature to all that she welcomed into her camp ... and of course her sense of humor.
• Irene was highly thought of on the road and her absence was felt when she wasn’t here.
   

Mom loved her tea and her sweets, so, sit for a moment with your favourite drink and let me share with you my tribute to my mother.

Mom was born in her family home in Upper Kingsburg and she and her sister Jean were raised with love and tenderness by their parents, Beulah and Albert Oxner. She attended her early years of education in the little school house in the community, completed high school at Centre Consolidated, and graduated from the secretarial course at the Vocational School in Halifax.

Her first secretarial job was with Nova Scotia Tractor, and she bought her parents their first fridge with her first paycheck. She then secured employment with Dalhousie University, Victoria General Hospital, as a medical secretary. This position suited mom, as she had that natural caregiver spirit and enjoyed working in the medical field. Dad often referred to her as Doc Mom.

Mom and Dad knew each other from childhood and eventually married in 1967. Like many marriages in the ’60s, Mom became a homemaker. They eventually moved back to their family roots in Upper Kingsburg, and Mom continued to raise our family and assist her parents and in-laws while Dad went to sea for the Canadian Coast Guard.

She was an active member of the community and rarely missed a Sunday mass. She was a local card club member, a Lunenburg Curling Club member, and a school librarian. She also volunteered for the Lunenburg County Libraries, delivered meals for clients of Harbour View Haven Home for Seniors and Bridgewater Second Story Women’s Centre, and volunteered at the Lunenburg Art Gallery, to name a few of her many commitments. Other achievements included graduating from a Christopher Leadership Course and receiving her amateur radio operator license. Mom was an entrepreneur as well—she was an independent Mary Kay consultant for several years, sold our hobby farm eggs to locals, and had her own greenhouse, where she sold annuals, perennials, and vegetable transplants.

My mother’s passions were her flower gardens and bird watching. She knew every flower and could tell you what their long, hard-to-pronounce, scientific names were and how to spell them. Our house would be lined with seedling trays in the early spring, and then they would move to her greenhouse, where she would transplant them, to either be added to her artistic gardens or sold to local gardeners. She grew prize-winning annuals and was best known for her begonias. If I didn’t know where she was, I would look in the gardens and often find her there conducting a garden tour and educating fellow gardeners.

She would keep her eyes peeled for birds and knew them by their songs before she even spotted them. Our house had every gardening book and bird guide available and binoculars were always in easy reach.

When she wasn’t in her gardens, Mom was in her kitchen. Each morning, CBC Radio would play while she prepared breakfast for my brother and me. Those were the days when milk was delivered, and many a morning my mom would jump into her boots, throw her jacket on like a cape over her housecoat, and race off down the driveway to hail the delivery truck so we could have fresh milk for our cereal. She always packed our lunches with homemade sandwiches and goodies, and she was always ready to roll when one of us didn’t make the bus. She could put the pedal to the metal to race down that bus! At the end of the school day, you could smell supper cooking as you walked up our driveway.

After my brother and I left the nest, so to speak, my Dad retired, and they bought a cottage on Hunter Road in Wentworth. A new chapter in their lives began, and it was nice to get to know a different side of my parents. Mom always enjoyed social events and being around people. Hunter Road was one big social for my parents, and Mom would dance and laugh until the last strum of the guitar played “Irene, Goodnight.” My parents clocked many hours on the ATV trails around their cottage and they toured the highways on Dad’s motorcycle during this time. Mom was a member of Ladies of Harley Davidson… AKA: a biker chick!

They travelled many miles by car as well. Their road trips covered every province except Newfoundland and every state except Hawaii and Alaska. With tea in hand, Mom did not miss many rest stops along the way. This would give her the opportunity to buy a souvenir or two… and another tea. Thanks to her massive spoon collection, we will never run out of spoons. These road trips would bring my parents to visit their grandchildren, as we were living in Washington State at that time. Mom loved playing with her grandchildren and taking them for walks in the wide-open fields and parks where we lived.

Unfortunately, their travelling days ended as my Mom’s dementia advanced and long trips were no longer an option. What better time to get them a rescue cat? Mom loved cats and my regular visits to the SPCA found the perfect cat, Nibblet, to keep them company. Animals are good therapy and Nibblet was no exception. Roles slowly reversed for my parents, as Dad became the homemaker and caregiver. Although my mom never stopped being a natural caregiver, and she would still ask Dad from time to time, even near the end, “How are you doing?”

My dad held true to his word and cared for my mom at home with the assistance of Homecare. This disease took many things from her, but it didn’t steal her enjoyment of people, her caring heart, her good nature, or her loving smile. She left this world peacefully at home in Upper Kingsburg surrounded by love. “Goodnight Irene, Goodnight Irene”, we will see you in our dreams.

Special thank you to Lunenburg County Home Support, the VON, the Riverport Fire Department, Krissinda Knickle NP, the Palliative Care team, Dr. Gowan, Melanie Spence RN, and the many volunteers for their excellent care and support.

Private graveside service to be followed by a celebration of life with family and friends at the Falvey residence. Date to be determined.  Family flowers only please. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lakeview Cemetery by contacting Carole-Anne Mosher, camosher@eastlink.ca, or to a charity of your choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to Serenity Funeral Home New Ross Funeral Chapel, 4935 Hwy #12, New Ross, B0J 2M0 (902-689-2961).