Dec 8, 1925 - Feb 4, 2018
Born 8 December, 1925 to Ernest Frederick Slade and Jessie Malvina Slade (nee Lillburn) in St. Aldate, Oxford, England. Died 4 February, 2018 at Comox, B.C.
Iris was predeceased by her mother, father, Step-mother Rosa Annie Harris Slade, sister Marjorie Hickman (Bill), brother Reginald Slade (Hilda), and nephew Roger Slade.
She is survived by her long-time companion, Ted Acres and their closest friends and family members.
Her family in England, her nephew Laurence Hickman, wife Jo, great- nephews Jeremy and Innes, and great-great nephews Jamie and Aidan, and great-great niece Esme, as well as her great nephews Jonathan and Matthew Slade, their mother Gill Slade and great- great nephews Adam and Jamie all remember her.
In her adopted country, Iris' sons Wayne and Gary, grandsons Aidan and Robin (Michelle), grand daughter Jessica Maxted, and five great grandchildren will cherish their memories of her.
On the last day she was able to speak, she met Barrett, Robin and Michelle's ten day old son Barrett. She smiled and talked, touched baby and went to sleep.
Iris lived a happy childhood in Oxford. During the War years, she worked in the Observer Corps. Married in 1947, she and her first husband Les emigrated to Canada in 1947, raising their family in Deep Cove, North Vancouver during the 50's and 60's. She worked in the library there and then for the Vancouver Island Regional Library in Cumberland, where she and Ted relocated in the mid-1970's.
An avid reader, Iris was also an accomplished knitter, enjoyed gardening, playing cards with friends and family and telling jokes. She and Ted camped and toured Vancouver Island, B.C and the U.S.A. with friends over many years. A formidable opponent at Scrabble, she was still filling out crossword puzzles in ink until fairly recently.
She and Ted, accompanied by their little terrier Bustin, moved to a patio home in Courtenay a few years ago, and Ted continued to bring her home from her residential care unit at Eagle Views whenever possible during the last year. Throughout her long life, Iris continued active correspondence with her family and friends back home, her letters knitting the far- flung family together.
The family is grateful to the caring staff of the Views who took time to get to know her, and treated her with kindness and respect, and Dr. Justin Falk.
A Celebration of Iris' life will be held at the Comox United Church Hall, 250 Beach Drive on Wednesday, March 21 from 10 to 12:30.