Irene A. Ridgeway

On February 15, our mom, grandma and great-grandma slipped away peacefully into the arms of Jesus.

 

Mom (Irene Adelaide Walker) was born on Christmas Day in 1931 in the borough of Brooklyn, New York. She was the middle sister of three in her loving family, and they enjoyed spending time in their summer home in Connecticut each year. It was here, when Irene was in high school, that she met her soulmate and life partner on the 4th of July. Her sailboat passed a little too close to the lighthouse where Bill was stationed and as they used to say: 'there were fireworks ever since”!

 

Following their marriage in 1951 and after finishing Bible school, mom and dad flew to Costa Rica and nine months later to Ecuador, which would become their home for the next 44 years.

 

Mom's passion was to make certain that she told everyone she met of Jesus and His great love and mercy for us. She did this up until her last moments on earth.

 

Mom loved her family fiercely, and her 4 children Bill (Jan), Cookie (Dave), Franklin (Gina), Dan (Linda), 12 grandchildren and many great grandchildren will miss her, but we rejoice that she is exactly where she wanted to be. She will also be reunited with Dad, who went to be with the Lord in 2014 as well as many family and friends who have gone on before. Mom is survived by her sister Lillian, her sister-in-law Catherine and many nieces and nephews. Her family in Ecuador will also miss her greatly.

 

We want to thank the staff at Christian Health Care Center in Lynden, Washington who have so lovingly cared for mom these past few years.

 

One of mom's favourite verses is: 'But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord....You are my God. My times are in Your hand'. Psalm 31:14.