Irene Fairweather

August 21, 1920 – December 7, 2015

Irene Dorothy Fairweather, a long-time resident of Osoyoos, passed away December 7, 2015. She was born in Vancouver in 1920, and, at a young age, moved to Oliver with her family. There she grew up with four sisters: Joan, Thelma, Pauline and Norma. After high school, she attended business school in Vancouver and later worked for Empire Shipping. Irene enjoyed city life, especially dancing to Dal Richards’ Orchestra at the Panorama Roof.

In 1947, she married Paul Fairweather. Together, they built a home and started an orchard in Osoyoos, and raised two daughters, Jan and Paula. Paul owned the Osoyoos Hardware and Lumber Ltd until 1985; Irene worked closely with him. Theirs was a real partnership, in business and the community. They were founding members of the Lake Osoyoos Sailing Club, and supported the development of the Mount Baldy Ski Area. Irene had a life-long interest in preserving the Okanagan’s rich biodiversity; she was a member of the Okanagan Similkameen Parks Society and the Osoyoos Desert Society.

Family and friends were very important to Irene throughout her life. Irene is survived by her daughters Jan and Paula (Wesley Wenhardt) of Vancouver, and her elder sister, Joan Wight of Osoyoos. Her husband, Paul, predeceased her in 1988.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Osoyoos Desert Society, in memory of Irene Fairweather.