Obituary of Victoria "Irene" Hendrickson

Irene Hendrickson of Camrose passed away on Friday, February 28, 2014 at the age of 88 years. Our Grandmother Irene, affectionately known as GG, was born on Victoria Day May 24, 1925 to George and Nancy Anderson in Lac La Biche Alberta. The 4th of 6 children, she was raised with her two brothers Gordon & James, and three sisters, Caroline, Leila and Mary in the Briarville area. Her father was a minister and blacksmith, and her mother was the local mid-wife. Our Grandma "kohkom" spoke Cree as a child and was very proud of her Metis heritage. Grandma moved to Edmonton in 1942 with her sister Carrie. It was wartime and the place to meet young men was at the Socials, and thus she met our grandfather Lloyd Hendrickson at a Social at the Prince of Wales Armoury. They married in 1944 and moved to Prince Rupert, BC where he was stationed with the Army. While in BC, they welcomed three daughters - Joan, Caroline & Patricia. In 1949 they returned to Alberta, first to Bawlf before finally settling in Camrose. Lloyd passed away in 1972. Grandma was a very hard worker who wasn't afraid to try new things. From a window factory worker in Edmonton to a riveter in a Prince Rupert shipyard, she could handle a saw or drill with the best of them. Later, while working at the Camrose SAAN Store, she met her lifelong friends Vi Webber and Eleanor Christian. Following this she enjoyed 25 years as part of the Rosehaven Laundry staff, while also waitressing and bartending at the Legion. She even supported her health by selling Shaklee vitamins at the local Farmers' Market. To our family the Camrose Legion is synonymous with Grandma, who was an active member for 50 years. She was involved in the Ladies Auxiliary, holding various offices including President for three terms, and also started the 39 Club and other groups. The Legion was her other family, it was her social outlet and her support group. Darts, dances, meat draws, bowling or crib. If it was at the Legion, Grandma was in the thick of it. She shared these great times with her other love - Henry Simpson, affectionately known as our "Grumpa. She kept him active and he kept her settled. They were a great pair until he passed in 1999. Family was everything to Grandma - and she was the center of our family… our Matriarch. She loved nothing more than to have one or more of us come stay with her. We knew there was always a family BBQ, a glass of wine, a game of dice and a bed ready for us. The one thing we never expected was home baked cookies! She loved having her daughters, sisters and grandchildren around, and loved visiting them and their families. Nothing was better than a big family reunion and a game of killer croquet. Her kitchen table was the meeting place and social center of our family - around it we shared all our joys and our sorrows - the loss of her daughter Caroline in 2005 was especially difficult. GG will always be remembered by her family, including her sisters Carrie, Leila (John), and Mary, daughters Joan and Patricia, step-daughter Aileen, six grandchildren Anita (Abdul), Shawn, Michelle (Ray), Sharon (Jason), Doug (Jody), Amber (Keenan) and 14 great-grandchildren Brianna, Tyrrell, Cortlon, Aadyn, Danika, Paige, Makeena, Connor, Sydney, Jordana, Brett, Taylor, Meadow and Skyla, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Lloyd, brothers Gordon & James, common-law partner Henry, daughter Caroline, granddaughter-in-law Joelle and granddaughter Jacqueline. A funeral service was held on Saturday, March 15, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. from the Burgar Memorial Chapel (4817 51 Ave Camrose, AB) with Rev. David Eriksson officiating. Inurnment followed in the Camrose Cemetery. Memorial contributions are gratefully accepted to the Alberta Cancer Foundation, Camrose Legion, or the charity of one's choice.