LEHTONEN, Irene Hannah, nee Jones
November 3, 1926 – June 1, 2014. The family of Irene Lehtonen is deeply saddened to announce the passing of this wonderful lady and loving mother on June 1, 2014, at the age of 87. Irene was predeceased by her loving second husband Eric Lehtonen, her first husband Gilbert Avery, and by her stepson Alan Lehtonen, son-in-law John Goswell, and sister Doreen (Anthony) Bastien. She is survived by her sons Darrel (Donna) Avery of Middle Sackville, NS, and Dorian (Iris) Avery of Winnipeg, MB, and daughter Joanne Goswell nee Avery of Maple Ridge, BC. She is also survived by her sisters Hannah (Helmut) Messal and Pam (Tom) Slade, and by grandchildren Justin (Kristen) Avery, Amanda Avery, Jared Avery, and Mary Goswell. Irene eagerly looked forward to celebrating the birth of her first great-grandchild in August.
Born to Percy and Louise Jones in Lougheed, AB, Irene was the first of their four daughters. In 1944 when she turned 18, she enlisted in the army and served with the Canadian Women’s Army Corps in Kitchener, ON. She was a lifelong member of the Royal Canadian Legion. Always self-reliant, hard-working, and self-sacrificing, Irene was a single parent from the early 1960’s on, and refused to remarry until all three of her children had grown up and left home. She continued working into her 70’s and went to live with her daughter, Joanne, only four years ago owing to health reasons. In keeping with Irene’s wishes, there will be no service, although she can be viewed at 11:00am on Friday, June 6 at Garden Hill Funeral Chapel - 11765 224th Street, Maple Ridge. We love you and we’re proud of you, mom. You raised us well and we’ll miss you with all our hearts “for thirty million years.” Expressions of sympathy can be made at www.gardenhill.ca