Irene Odile Hardy, age 82 years, of Salisbury passed away peacefully in the Moncton Hospital on Thursday, April 29, 2010 with her daughter by her side. Born in Ponteix, Saskatchewan on April 14th, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Peter and the late Caroline (nee Cossette) Mercier. She is survived by her daughter, Deborah Ann (Rod) Stackhouse of Colpitts Settlement and son Thomas Anderson (Suzanne) Hardy of Craven Saskatchewan. The sixth of eleven children, she is also survived by her sisters, Cecile (Bert) Bouchard of Sidney, BC, Rita (Kip) Barker of Surrey, BC, Pauline (Michael) Skinner of Victoria, BC, Celine (Larry) McMahon of Burlington, ON, and brothers Joseph (Betty) Mercier and Paul (Patricia) Mercier both of Calgary, Alta. She was predeceased by sisters Rose Mae Johnstone, Leona Mercier, Annette Brunskill and infant sister Madeline. Irene's greatest joy was her children and her grandchildren Kirsten, Mikhaila, Leandra and Michelle. She moved from her long time residence in Regina to Salisbury at the birth of her first grandchild so that she could play an active role in their lives and that she did. She was a governing influence in their upbringing and truly a magnificent presence and role model for these young girls. She embraced her Catholic Faith and embodied her strong values in her daily life. Irene often talked passionately about her work as a lab tech in her early working years and later on as a councilor for the John Howard Society. She also lovingly devoted herself to helping her sister Leona care for their elderly mother in her later years. Although born and raised in the west, she was delighted to see both family names Cossette and Mercier on the list of expelled Acadians and was very proud to be back home in the Maritimes. Irene had a very large extended family and is survived by many nieces and nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.
At Irene's request there will be no visitation. A private family memorial service will be held at her gravesite next to her precious mother in Regina, Saskatchewan at a later date. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Fair Haven Funeral Home, 1177 Salisbury Road, Moncton (506) 852-3530. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Kidney Foundation of Canada. The family invites you to sign the online book of condolences at www.fairhavenmemorial.ca.