It is with great sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of our mother and grandmother Irene “Gracie” Moore on Monday March 9, 2015. She was a very strong loving woman that loved her family and friends. She was a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and friend and will be missed by many. She loved her old country music, her flowers, her coffee dates, walks to the mall, and telling stories of her life growing up.
Irene was born on May 7, 1931 in Rimbey, Alberta to Clifford and Pearl Rathwell where she was raised until she was 15, when she moved to live with her Aunt Stell and Uncle Joe in Saskatoon. A few years later she moved back to Rimbey where she met and later married Robert Moore on September 19, 1953. They lived in various places throughout Alberta and British Columbia to finally settling down Cranbrook BC in 1975 where they raised their 3 children.
Irene is survived by her children Murray (Leslie) Moore, Jackie (Doug) Hill, Cheryl (Gord) McDonald; Honorary daughter Mary (Jamie) Hazzard; grandchildren Leslie (John) Smitna, Dana (Chad) Smart, Josh (Haley) McDonald, Jessie Moore, Michael (Lindy) Birmingham, and Johnathan (Candice) Birmingham; great grandchildren Isaac Bailey, Madison Smitna, Jordan Smart; Kaleb, Laynie, Bryce, Spencer, Oliver Birmingham and brothers Ken (Eileen) Rathwell, Murray (Gail) Rathwell as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.
Irene was predeceased by her husband Robert Moore; children Terry Moore, Colleen Moore, her parents Clifford and Pearl Rathwell, and her siblings Pricilla, Vernon, Harold, Patrick, Michael, Clifford Jr, and Jeanne Smith.