Irene Hazel Helen Keyser, (nee Potratz) passed away peacefully on August 17th, 2013 in Spirit River, Alberta with her son, Marvin and his wife Julie, by her side. Irene was born in Herschel, Saskatchewan on March 25th, 1916 and was proud to say she was 97 years old, having lived a happy, healthy life. She was predeceased by her parents, Martha and Ernest Potratz, husband Roy in 2004 and her older siblings, Lucy Potratz (Walter), Albert Potratz (Marlene), Margaret Day (Norman), and Edna Anderson (Pete). Irene is survived by her only child, Marvin (Julie) from Calgary, only grandchild, Darrin (Jacqueline), and two great grandsons, Finn and Reid, from Cochrane, Alberta, who were the joy of her life. She also left many loving nieces and nephews and their children from Peace Country and Saskatchewan and some long time friends whom she cherished. Irene will also be missed by friends and staff at the Pleasant View Lodge in Spirit River. Irene traveled by train to Peace Country in May, 1930 from Herschel, Saskatchewan as a girl of 14 with her mother, two sisters and a niece to join her father and brother who had left in the summer of 1929 to file for homesteads. The two men had managed to build a log house and barn with the help of family also homesteading in the area. When Irene was 24 she met Roy Keyser at a country dance who she later married and with whom she shared 64 years of her life. Irene was a kind, patient, compassionate soul who always had a positive outlook on life and loved her family who thought the world of her. She had a great sense of humour and was a hard worker. Irene loved to learn and always kept an open mind to new ideas. She was happy when anyone happened to stop in, dropping whatever she was doing to visit with them. It took her no time at all to have tea and goodies or a meal on the table for her visitors. She took art classes and did beautiful paintings in both oil and water colors. During many winters, Irene and Roy travelled extensively, seeing a good part of the world. In her golden years, Irene continued in her role of homemaker and was proud of her flower and vegetable gardens. She enjoyed socializing at the Happy Hour Club and was an excellent card player. Irene could walk faster and further than many women half her age and practiced preventative health care long before it became popular. After Roy’s death, Irene moved into Pleasant View Lodge where she was content for nine years, enjoying everything it had to offer. Funeral Services will be held on August 23rd, 2013 at 1:00 P.M. at SpiritRiverUnitedChurch. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made to the Grande Spirit Foundation.