SCANSEN - Cassie Irene Scansen, aged 102 years of Shaunavon, SK, and formerly of the Crichton, SK, district passed away after a lengthy illness at Shaunavon Special Care Centre on July 30, 2009. Irene was born on the family farm near Carrington, North Dakota, on January 6, 1907. Irene was the eldest of four children born to Gust and Ida Scansen. Irene and her family arrived by train in Swift Current on June 17, 1910, where they loaded all their belongings on wagons and headed south to their homestead in the Boule Creek district, near Crichton. When Irene was one month old she contracted polio which left her with a walking disability. She lived with her parents until a failed operation confined her to a wheelchair. She then spent some time at the Palliser in Swift Current. In March, 1971 an opening became available at the Southwest Nursing Home in Shaunavon. It was here she made her new home for thirty-eight years, and acquired an extended family with the staff and care givers. During her lifetime she enjoyed her meetings with the South Immanuel Ladies Aid, and all the activities such as quilting, sewing, etc., that helped with fundraising for the church. Irene’s favourite hobby was crocheting and many were lucky recipients of crocheted gifts. In her younger years she loved gardening (when that wind didn’t blow). The activity time at the Care Centre was a time she also enjoyed, especially when it was musical entertainment. Irene never complained even when she lost her eyesight which was a big blow to her. Her memory was the one thing that amazed everyone who knew her. She could tell you names and birthdays of cousins near and far and even staff members and their children just ask Irene about a date and she would know! To sum it up, there was a card sitting on Irene’s desk, it said- “When God created you, He blessed a whole lot of other people.” Irene was predeceased by her mother, Ida and father, Gus; sisters, Grace and her husband Waldemar Barman and Blanda and her husband Dave Fischer; and a brother, Earl in infancy. She is survived by her niece, Donna (Ron) Blomme, and nephew Lindsey (Janice) Fischer, both of Shaunavon; great nieces and nephews, Rachelle (Mark) Dordu; Shannon (Lee) Armstrong; Branden Blomme (friend Cassandra Johnston); Carmen (Ryan) Hodgson; Jeff (Stacy) Stevenson; and great great nieces and nephews, Clayton and Kyle Dordu; Tiara and Tygh Armstrong; Jayleigh and Kace Hodgson; and Laura and Callie Stevenson. Funeral services were held on Monday, August 10, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. from Salem Lutheran Church in Shaunavon with Pastor Eugene Mau officiating. Interment took place at South Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery at Cadillac, Saskatchewan. Binkley’s Funeral Service of Shaunavon (www.binkleys.com) was in charge of the arrangements. Pallbearers were Kelvin Scansen, Arnold Scansen, Keith Hedstrom, Donald Fischer, Mark Dordu and Brandon Blomme.