Irene Rayner
elevated kVnVJ August 13, 1936 – October 20, 2022
elevated kVnVJ Visitation
Thursday October 27, 2022 from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
elevated kVnVJ Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
211 Langstaff Road East, Thornhill, ON, L3T 3Z6
elevated kVnVJ Funeral Mass
Thursday October 27, 2022 at 1:30 pm, Chapel of St. Joseph, Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
Family and friends are invited to view the Funeral Mass on Thursday October 27, 2022 at 1:30 pm, Please click the link below:
elevated kVnVJ If desired, donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association York Region
elevated kVnVJ Obituary
elevated kVnVJ Rayner, Irene (Catherine Margaret)
elevated kVnVJ Peacefully passed away on October 20, 2022 at the age of 86. Loving wife of 59 years to Clive. Caring and devoted mother to Stephen (Deepta) and Christine (Bob). Proud grandmother to Michelle (Derek), Kiran, Koel, and great grandmother to Kacey and Remi. Loving sister to Ellen and William and cherished aunt to Paul, Linda, Carol, Andrew and Jackie.
elevated kVnVJ Irene studied under the tutelage of the nuns in Scotland arriving in Canada in 1961 with friends and fellow classmates, securing a teaching position with the Catholic School board in Toronto. A lover of knowledge and learning, her part-time BA studies at York University ended when her degree conferred an accomplishment she was quite proud of.
elevated kVnVJ Teaching was her passion and she particularly enjoyed her time supporting students with speech therapy sessions. She’d blush furiously if one of her students happened upon her while shopping or out and about in the community. As was her norm, Irene’s memory and kind demeanor made her graduates feel special and appreciated.
elevated kVnVJ Swept off her feet by Clive Rayner her love and soon to be husband for over five decades, they had a sizzling and captivating romance marrying on August 13, 1963. Soon to follow were two children (Christine and Stephen) who kept her busy with skating on the backyard rink, tobogganing and spending weekends on the Lazy Daze houseboat, the Osprey or at the Rayner’s Retreat on Lake Simcoe.
elevated kVnVJ An eventful and full life she had and enjoyed travelling the world with Clive once the kids had grown to create their own adult adventures.
elevated kVnVJ Demure, shy, unassuming, and filled with grace and kindness, Mom was a role model for both Stephen and Christine. A giver, a teacher, a companion, a woman blessed with a soft and tender heart, encouraging them to take the high road, to turn the other cheek and to be humble.
elevated kVnVJ Recall Irene’s college education was delivered by nuns, so while she could be soft and gentle, she had an equally powerful no-nonsense backbone of strength and high expectations that led her to become a community activist in opposition to the Toronto Airport runway expansion and of course her own great resilience and perseverance shone through as our matriarch and fighting alongside Dad as he battled cancer.
elevated kVnVJ Is it no wonder her daughter, son and grandchildren’s qualities are a tapestry of her feistiness, independence, quest for righting wrongs and love and devotion to family.
elevated kVnVJ We cherish and remember precious moments with you our friend and teacher, mom, sister, aunt, grandma and great grandma. You will forever live in our hearts.
My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Irene. She was a wonderful person and proud to had called her my aunt.
Irene will be dearly missed.
Sending love and prayers.
My deepest condolences to the Rainer family and friends. Irene was a lovely lady who I also was proud to call her Aunt. On behalf of The O’Donnell/Hillier Family, Irene will be dearly missed. Sending hugs and prayers.