It is with sadness that the family of Irene Chamberlain announces her passing on March 19th, 2009.
Mum was born in Jasper in 1934 to Nicholas and Jennie Makowichuk. She came from a family of railroad men. Her father retired from the railroad in Prince George after 35 years and her grandfather drove the "Golden Spike" in Fort Fraser linking the East and West to complete the railroad.
The family lived in McBride, Dewey and Giscome attending school in Sinclair Mills. Working as an operator for BC Tel, she met Dad in Giscome. One year later they married in the St. Francis Church. Elaine, Brian, and Cindy were to complete their family.
The family moved from Quesnel to Fort St. James then on to Babine Lake in 1964, where mum was a homemaker and dad worked in the sawmill. In 1966 they purchased the land and built a resort now known as Babine Lake Resort. They both loved their life at the lake, hunting & fishing including sing songs & potlucks around the campfire.
During the winter months, dad worked for Decker Lake Forest Products and mum worked at Alaska Way Restaurant cooking until March, 1981 when dad was lost in a snow mobile accident on Babine Lake. The resort was sold in 1985 and mum retired to her home in Burns lake.
Mum joined the Legion Ladies Auxiliary and remained a member for 27 years. She was a avid bowler and competitive cribbage player attending the Senior Games and winning many medals and trophies. She loved her sports and watched it all.
Her real passion was the outdoors, camping, fishing, hunting, berry & mushroom picking until her health slowed her down the last couple of years. She was a great cook and loved it. There was always lots of cooking, baking, canning, knitting for the Health Care Auxiliary and crocheting doillies all of which was shared in the many packages and boxes she sent to family and friends.
Mum's battle with breast cancer began in 1988 and through it all she fought with pride, determination, courage, and an unbelievable faith in God and Church. Mum remained very optimistic, positive and with a spirit that still held her sense of humor.
Mum will forever be loved, missed and remembered by her family and friends.
She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph Chamberlain, her mother, Jennie Makowichuk, and father, Nicolas Makowichuk.
She is survived by children, Elaine (Ed) Bryant, Brian (Lynn) Chamberlain, Cindy (Ken) Pederson, brother William (Elsie) Makowichuk, brother Raymond (Elsie) Makowichuk, Evelyn (Mike) Padalec. Known as "Nana Rene", she was blessed with 7 grandsons, 1 granddaughter and 2 great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held March 25th at the Immaculate Catholic Parish in Burns lake. Mum's wish was to be ruinited with dad, so it was her request to have her ashes spread on Babine Lake. The ceremony will take place this summer.