Obituary of Irene Cornell Fawcett

FAWCETT, Irene C.

July 21, 1928 – December 20, 2022

It is with great sadness that the family of Irene Cornell Fawcett announces her peaceful passing at the age of 94 in Regina, Saskatchewan. Irene was born at the Red Cross Outpost Hospital in Broderick, Saskatchewan and grew up on the family farm nearby. She was the youngest of seven children. When the local school closed, she took Grade 9 by correspondence, lived with her sister and brother-in-law in Aylesbury for Grade 10, and completed Grades 11 and 12 at the Lutheran College in Outlook. Irene attended the University of Saskatchewan, graduating with a Bachelor of Education degree, majoring in Home Economics.

While she was at university, she met her future husband, Charlie Fawcett. They maintained a long-distance relationship for over a year when Charlie transferred to the Ontario Veterinary College to pursue his dream of becoming a veterinarian. Mom took her first plane trip to Guelph to elope with and marry Charlie on November 11, 1949. After graduation in 1950, Irene moved out to Ontario to be with Charlie until he graduated in 1954.  Irene then supported Charlie as he started his veterinary practice in Regina while she taught part time at the Adult Education Night School. In 1963, Irene started teaching full time at Campbell Collegiate where she remained until she retired in 1990. She became the Head of the Home Economics department and taught classes in Home Economics, including Interior Design and Family Life. Many of her students over the years have shared with us the positive influence she had on them during their high school years. 

Irene was an excellent cook and seamstress, especially mending. She was extremely organized and a proficient writer of letters and sticky note reminders and instructions that she left posted around her home and the cottage for herself and for others. The challenges of growing up on a farm in the 1930s had a life-long impact. She was a good money manager and rarely threw anything away if it could be fixed, mended, recycled, or reused. She kept a beautiful garden at the cottage, feeding the family with vegetables she’d grown. Irene was also willing to try anything.

After she and Charlie bought the family cottage at B-Say-Tah on Echo Lake in 1969, she took on some new adventures. In her forties, she learned how to water ski, golf, and cross-country ski. She also learned how to downhill ski so she could take the kids on annual ski trips during the school Easter breaks. She participated in regular exercise classes for most of her life and yoga for a few years in her eighties. Irene embraced her life and had a youthful and energetic spirit.

Irene and Charlie were married for over 56 years. They had a warm and loving relationship, had fun together, and were a great team. They had many happy years together raising their family, pursuing their careers, socialising with their many friends, travelling, and being out at the B-Say-Tah cottage with their family and their many family dogs. Irene missed Charlie dearly after he passed away in 2006. She moved to Marian Chateau in November 2008. Irene met Ray O’Shaugnessy shortly after she moved in, and they became close friends. He was an important companion and caregiver to her for over eleven years before Irene moved into a personal care home in January 2020 when she required more support.

Irene was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Charles Fawcett; her parents, Christian and Nora Olson; her siblings Muriel (Bert) McBride, Reuben (Joan) Olson, Verna (Gordon) Devitt, Harvey (Beth) Olson, Helen (Edward) Gerrish, Nordis (Don) Lindholm; and her nephew Ken McBride. Irene is survived by her children Rhonda Korpan (Paul Korpan), Wes Fawcett (Sue Fawcett), and Gord Fawcett; her seven grandchildren Greg Korpan (Jasmine Korpan), Roxanne Korpan (Bryn Besse), Michelle Korpan (Noah Wernikowski), Carly Fawcett, Graham Fawcett, Aimée Fawcett, and Natalie Fawcett (David Rogers); two great-grandchildren, Lennyn and Rhett Korpan; and her dear friend Ray O’Shaugnessy.

A Service and Celebration of Life (in person and livestreamed) will be held on Friday May 19, 2023, at 1:00 pm at Lakeview United Church, 3200 McCallum Avenue, Regina, SK.

Flowers are most gratefully declined.

If you would like to make a donation in memory of Irene, donations to Lakeview United Church, 3200 McCallum Avenue, Regina, SK.  S4S 0R8, the Regina Salvation Army, 2240 – 13 Avenue, Regina, SK. S4P 3M7 or a charity of your choice would be appreciated.

To view the livestream of the service, please visit the YouTube link at, http://www.lakeviewchurch.ca/. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.speersfuneralchapel.com.