Irene Bouris 1941 to Feb 7,2013

Irene passed away Feb 7, 2013 at 12:33pm, peacefully and comfortably at her home attended by her family after a long battle with cancer. Mother of Michael Bouris of Vancouver, BC, and Amy Evens of St. Thomas.  Grandmother of Miles Evens of London, and Gabriel River Zay Bouris of Vancouver, BC.  Mother-in-law of Paul Evens of Atwood.  Also survived by 4 sisters, 4 brothers and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.  She was 72 years old. She has been taken for cremation as per her last wishes and will be interred in Sundown, Manitoba beside her parents later this spring.


Born in Stuartburn Twp., MB, January 1, 1941, she was the daughter of the late Phillip  and Anastasia (nee Wepruk) Kereliuk.  Irene moved to Ontario from Manitoba in 1967 and to Sparta in 1992.  Irene was a nurse for many years being continuously employed in a variety of clinical and teaching fields since graduating in 1963.  She was a Registered Nurse at LHSC, South Street Hospital, London.  Irene was a member of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, the Gerontological Nursing Association of Ontario and the Aylmer Horticultural Club.  Irene was an active member in many communities and has a huge number of friends and colleagues.


She belonged to the St. Thomas Field Naturalists Club and signed petitions to save the Boreal Birds.   In 2010 Irene received Central Elgin - Growing Together Awards for her field naturalist work and her natural home environment for wild life.    She was also a member of the Canadian Peony Society and a staunch supporter of the Annual Root Sale fundraiser.

To honour her passing and celebrate her life there will be a memorial open to the public held on Friday, Feb 15 at 7:00 pm at  Knox Presbyterian Church, 55 Hincks St., St. Thomas , ON in Rodney Hall.  There will be light refreshments available. There will be a private interment in Ascension of Our Lord, Ukrainian Catholic Parish Cemetery, Sundown, MB, in the spring.  Memorial donations made out to the St. Thomas Field Naturalists will be gratefully accepted.


Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family.