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Iris Keith 1932-2023
It is with great sadness that our family announces the passing of Iris.
Iris Margaret Keith (née Hazen) was born in Toronto on February 1st, 1932. During the Depression years, she and her family lived in several towns in northern Ontario. She missed a year of school due to polio but her brother, Murray, tutored her and she ended up skipping a few grades along the way. Iris married her first husband, Chuck Merrall, in Galt (now Cambridge) in 1951 and had two children, Karen and Michael. A year after leaving Galt to live in Drummondville, Quebec she was widowed at the age of 29.
She moved to Toronto with her young children, living with her mother, and trained to become an RNA (Registered Nursing Assistant). She worked in Public Health at various schools and bought a small house. She still found time to sew many of her own clothes and those of her children.
Iris then decided to move to Kitchener with her children, where she married her second husband, Jack Keith in 1966 and had a son, Iain. Iris spent many hours at Sick Kids’ Hospital at Iain’s bedside when he was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer at the age of three. Iris then continued her nursing career, working in several doctors’ offices. Jack introduced Iris to Scottish Country Dancing and she loved the music, and the friendships that developed. She supported Karen and Michael’s activities and sports and organized family trips to Expo 67, England and a camping vacation to the Maritimes.
When Iris and Jack retired they moved north to Kearney into the cottage on Lynx Lake that Jack had been building. She loved decorating the cottage in her favourite colours, blue and rose, making curtains, blinds and lampshades and even taught herself upholstery. Iris and Jack welcomed family and many friends to the cottage, especially during the summers and at Christmas. They enjoyed cross country skiing, canoeing and kayaking, hosting musical evenings and watching hockey, skating, soccer and the Tour de France on TV. Iris was an avid reader and loved mystery novels. She was a great cook, known for her potato soup, pies, scones and cookies, especially shortbread. She loved sharing her skills and interests with her grandchildren. Iris and Jack travelled widely for a few years, with Australia, Spain and Ireland being the most cherished destinations.
Iris began driving the 4 hours from the cottage to Waterloo every 2 weeks to get groceries for her mother and help her with household tasks. She stayed with her daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Ted, during those visits, and helped out a lot when she became a grandmother to Amy and Matthew. Her son, Michael and daughter-in-law, Lori had a daughter, Leah a few years later and Iris became a proud grandmother of three. Iris was widowed again in 2012 and moved permanently to Waterloo.
Iris was a warm and loving mother and grandmother. She was delighted when she became a great-grandmother to Marley, Oliver, Lillian and Mylo (who was born on her 91st birthday!). She had daunting challenges in her latter years, suffering the death of her son, Michael and developing vascular dementia. Throughout her whole life she was thoughtful, generous and kind to everyone, without exception, and carried her burdens with grace and dignity. Iris died in Columbia Forest Long Term Care Home on September 28th, 2023, at the age of 91, of natural causes. She will be missed by all who were lucky enough to have known her.
Iris was predeceased by her son, Iain Keith, her son, Michael Merrall, her husband, Charles Merrall Jr., her husband, John Keith, her sister, Bernice Rose and her brother, Murray Hazen. She is survived by her daughter, Karen (Ted) Giesbrecht, her granddaughter, Amy (Anthony) Musclow, her grandson, Matthew (Christina) Giesbrecht, her daughter-in-law, Lori Merrall, her granddaughter, Leah Merrall, her sister, Carol Ann Turcotte and her four great-grandchildren, Marley and Oliver Giesbrecht, and Lillian and Mylo Musclow.
As per her wishes, there will be no visitation or funeral. We will be having a family celebration of her life at her beloved cottage next spring.
Thank you to everyone at Columbia Forest for their care, especially during the last few difficult days. Thank you also to the Henry Walser Funeral Home for their help and advice.
In memory of Iris, donations to SickKids Foundation are welcome (cards available at the funeral home, 519-749-8467).
Visit www.henrywalser.com to view Iris’ memorial.
Thursday September 28th 2023
Death notice for the town of: Kitchener, Province: Ontario
death notice Iris Margaret Keith Thursday September 28th 2023
obituaries notice Iris Margaret Keith Thursday September 28th 2023
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Iris Margaret Keith Thursday September 28th 2023 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
I remember Iris as a kind soul who introduced me to goats cheese as a young girl at our cottage in Tobermory. She made legendary hot meat pies carefully wrapped in tea towels and tin coils for us to enjoy on the cross country ski trails. She was the kind of person you were drawn to- warm and caring. My heart goes out to Karen and her family.