Irene Bertram Grant

Irene Grant (nee Hackston) peacefully passed away in Cobourg Ontario on Dec 3, 2022 at the age of 87.
She was born in the village of Carfin (Lanarkshire), Scotland. She worked as a clerk at the tax office for inland revenue and went dancing a lot to help break up the excitement of that job. While away on a holiday in 1956 to the seaside town of Morecambe, England she attended a local dance. Here she met Don, a tall striking Scotsman with a slick pompadour haircut who was doing his RAF national service. They started dating and exchanging letters.
She married Don in 1958 and they relocated to Canada in 1964 with their two young boys Ian and Colin. A third son was added, Andrew, and she found herself surrounded by males and had to endure all that energy and noise. Even the cat was male. This is when she may have questioned being a full time homemaker but she kept everything and everyone running as smooth as possible. She did volunteer as the local crossing guard and in later years returned to part time work at a fabric store to help support her seamstress habit.
Irene found quiet solace in her sewing room where she made clothes, curtains, pillow cases, dolls, Halloween costumes, and even a wedding dress. In later years she added furniture reupholstery. If you heard no sewing machine noise and found her in the chair with eyes closed she was merely "resting her eyes" and not asleep! After retiring to Cobourg Irene volunteered at the local hospital and continued to sew items such as Raggedy Anne dolls for the hospital shop.
She enjoyed good company with friends and family and laughed easily. We have been told many times her laughter always gave a cheery atmosphere to a room. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother who was always there when family needed her. She will be greatly missed.
Irene was predeceased by her husband Donald Grant (2020) and brother David Hackston (2022). She is survived by her 3 boys, daughters-in-law Robin, Angie, Cheryl, and grandkids Rowynne, Alexander, Gavin, Malcolm and Fiona.
To honor Irene and Don's memory, we will be holding a Celebration of Life at a later date and will update the information here. We invite anyone who knew them to attend and perhaps share favourite stories and memories.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada.
We also want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to Extendicare Cobourg for taking such great care of Irene and Don.