Marlene Irven

Marlene Irven, a lifetime resident of the Dunbar area, passed away at the Cornwall Community Hospital on Fri., Dec. 11, 2009 following a lengthy battle with diabetes. She was 66.
Marlene was born in Williamsburg Township on December 16, 1942 to her parents, Lloyd and Ruby Barkley (nee Froats). She was raised in the Dunbar area along with her brothers.
On Oct. 3, 1959 she married Donnie Irven and they moved to Ottawa where Marlene worked at Woolworths and Zellers in the Billings Bridge shopping centre. In June of 1962 Marlene and Donnie purchased a hobby farm in Dunbar where they raised pigs and calves. Marlene was a very ambitious young woman and in addition to delivering the mail to the residents of RR# 2 Chesterville, she also babysat Donnie's sisters children, worked at Bill Marcellus' butcher shop, and as a Red Cross Homemaker.
She loved going to parties and dances, watching sports, especially hockey, fishing, camping, hunting, and playing cards and bingo. She also enjoyed knitting, painting lawn ornaments, gardening, and doing lawn work. Marlene's culinary skills were second to none and she always prepared delicious home cooked meals, preserves, pickles, and pies.
She was a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother, and she truly loved and appreciated her entire family, especially her four grandchildren.
Marlene is survived by her husband Donnie, her children Lisa Irven (Glenn Brousseau) of Dunbar and Bill (Tammy) of RR# 2 Chesterville, and her grandchildren Matthew, Haylee, Kaitlin, and Natalie. She was predeceased by brothers Bernice, Basil, Clifford, Bert, and Kenneth Barkley, and a brother Raymond in infancy. She is also survived by nieces and nephews.
Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home in Williamsburg on Sun., Dec. 13. The funeral service was held at the funeral home on Mon., Dec. 14 with Rev. Ed Charlton officiating. Interment followed at Morewood Cemetery. The pallbearers were Mark Barkley, Mike Barkley, Danny Shaver, Derek Shaver, Aaron Wopat, and Brian Wadell.
Donations to the Winchester District Memorial Hospital or the Canadian Diabetes Association would be appreciated by the family.