Irene Mary Theresa Boisvert

Provided by Athabasca Community Chapel - The
Caring Group

October 19, 1935 ~ January 10, 2017 (age 81)
With great sadness and heavy hearts, our family announces the
departure of beloved Mother and Grandmother, Irene Boisvert, who
passed away January 10th, 2017, in the caring hands of staff at
Athabasca Health Care Centre.
Irene was born October 19, 1935 in Medicine Hat, Alberta, as an only
child to Hazel (born in Vibank, SK) and Lawrence (aka Sonny) Seyfried
(North Dakota, USA) who moved from Bengough, Saskatchewan in 1929
to their homestead at Lawrence Lake District in the Grosmont area where
they raised dear Irene.
Early Recollections of Irene's include her living with her parents between
their Homestead and nearby sawmill camps on a seasonal basis where
her mom was cook and her dad a mill labourer. Her parents also farmed
and her dad trapped and did some commercial fishing with his brother.

Services
VISITATION
Saturday
January 14, 2017
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Athabasca Community Chapel The Caring Group
Athabasca, AB
MEMORIAL SERVICE
Monday
January 16, 2017
1:00 PM
Athabasca Community Chapel The Caring Group
Athabasca, AB
INTERMENT FOLLOWING
FUNERAL SERVICE
Monday
January 16, 2017
Athabasca Community
Cemetery
Athabasca, AB

During elementary years, Irene was home schooled grade one by her
mother, bussed to Ranch School near Hondo for grade two, and by grade
three Lawrence Lake School was finally built where her dad played a
major role in the building of it and was also a school trustee.
For grades 10 -12, Irene attended Athabasca High School (the Old Brick
School) and boarded at the Academy run by the Catholic Church (now
the historical Powell House). She then went onto the University of
Alberta and achieved an elementary teacher certificate in 1954. Irene’s
first five years of teaching 1954-1959 were at Lahaivelle School near
Grosmont. She later taught full-time at Smith School then substituted at
the Hutterite Colony and Athabasca Elementary Schools.
Irene first met her future husband, Joseph (Joe) Boisvert, during high
school years through the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) where they
shared music in common. They married in 1958, and from 1959-1965
had 5 children. In 1965, Joe and Irene moved from Athabasca to the
Seyfried homestead to raise their family and live next to Irene’s parents
where Joe operated his metal fabricating shop from after he quit
trucking.
For the years to follow, Irene and Joe played for hundreds of weddings,
anniversaries, cabarets, and other events in the Athabasca region with 3
of their children and other local musicians.
Irene was always appreciative for what she was given in life and proud of
her family’s accomplishments. She shared her joy of teaching and music
with many.

She was predeceased by Joe in 2008, her parents (Sonny) in 1983 and
(Hazel) in 1991, a close Aunt (Mary Seyfried) and musical cousins (Tom
Seyfried and Hank Keobke) as well as her mother and father in law
(Ovide and Rose Boisvert) and other in-laws who passed before her.
She leaves to mourn her loss 5 children - Marcel (Viola), Gisele, Rene,
Claudette (Terry), and Maxine; 8 grandchildren – Rachelle (Steve) Green,
Danny Melsness, Terrence Van Camp (Sarah), Kyle Tegenkamp
(Janessa), Tanna Tegenkamp, Marcy Boisvert, Dale Boisvert, Adrian
Johnson (Sarah); and 5 great grandchildren - Christian, Beau, Arianna,
Brinley, and Benjamin (Benny).
Also left behind are numerous cousins, in-laws, nieces, nephews and
cherished friends.
Honorary Pallbearers include: Sister Yvonne Patry, Pat Johnson, Lucille
Isfeld, Ray Kolach, Emile Kryvenchuk, and cousins: Bernice Logan and
Sandra Maurice.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to Pleasant Valley Lodge.