Reta Irene (Crane) Irvin

Reta Irene Irvin (Crane), beloved wife of the late Frank L. Irvin, and long-time Calgary resident, passed away at Providence Care Centre, March 24, 2026; just 4 weeks shy of her 97th birthday.   

Reta was born on April 20, 1929, to a large farming family (six sisters and five brothers), in the small rural community of Riverton, PEI (near Martinvale, Kings County).    She attended Peakes Road School (a one-room schoolhouse), completing Grade 8 in 1943.    With WWII in progress, Reta’s help was required on the farm.  Duties included caring for animals, milking cows, churning butter, carrying firewood for the wood stove and pumping water for the stove’s water tank, baking bread, making meals, hauling and heating more water to do the dishes, and laundry (scrubbed on a wash board with homemade lye soap), and accompanying her mother on midwifery call-outs (or running the household in her mother’s absence).

With the end of the war in 1945, Reta (age 16) attended Union Commercial College in Charlottetown, where she completed the Junior Commercial Course.  Reta enjoyed numbers, and her bookkeeping skills served her well throughout her long life.

At age 18, Reta and a friend left home to work for the Pioneer Camp in Maine.   That fall, they visited relatives in Maine, travelled to Boston; and eventually ended up in Moncton NB, where Reta found work with the Timothy Eaton Company. It was in Moncton that Reta met Frank and fell in love.  They married in 1950, and moved to Calgary in 1951, where they raised three daughters (and, unofficially, some of their daughter’s friends).  Reta’s busy family and social life included music, square dancing, camping trips, baking and sewing for church fund-raisers, and Eastern Star.

After 45 years of marriage, Frank passed at age 70.   Blessed with kind and helpful neighbours, Reta continued to live an active and independent life until the age of 90, when she relinquished her driver’s license after breaking her hip.   Her final years were spent in long-term care; initially at AgeCare Glenmore, and then Providence Care Centre.   Reta is survived by her daughters (Joan, Anita & Donna), two grandchildren (Tyler & Amber), and  three great grandchildren (Sienna, Scarlet & Slate). She is lovingly remembered as a sweet spirit and welcoming hostess.  Her kitchen was filled with the aroma of home baked cookies and home cooked meals, and her guest room was often occupied by visitors from the Maritimes, or relatives attending college or working “away."

In accordance with Reta’s wishes, there will be no funeral.  Those who desire may make a donation to a charity of their choice.

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