Theodora (Theo) Jo Irvine (Moss) July 13, 1923 – Jan. 19, 2017
Theo was born in Blackie, Alberta, the fifth child to George Oliver and Glenna Moss. At the age of six, in 1929, the family (then 7 children) moved to Birch Island from Mossleigh, Alberta. Theo and her siblings started their education in the little one room school house. She went on to board in Kamloops to finish high school at St. Anne's Academy. Growing up in Birch Island, which was a bustling little village at that time, always invoked great memories and lots of laughter from Theo. Lifelong best friends were created, drama, adventures and card clubs. Tony and she were neighbours growing up, and he never thought that one day they would marry in the little church in Birch Island. Theo spent three years waiting for her new husband to come home from the war, and they were together for 44 years, until Tony passed away in 1987.
When Theo got her first driver's license, it was restricted to driving on Birch Island.
Theo took over the post office from Bob McCracken in 1955, and when they built their new home, there was a post office with its own entrance built right into the basement. It was the gathering place of the community every morning while she sorted the newly arrived mail. She retired in 1970, and enjoyed traveling, cross country skiing, bridge, and visiting with her family and friends.
Predeceased by: sister Agnes Moss - 1914; son Andrew Irvine - 1951; father George Oliver Moss - 1955; mother Glenna (Loblaw) Moss - 1977; sister Bessie McFadden – 1978, brother-in-law Jock – 1976; brother George Moss – 1994, sister-in-law Lois – 2004; sister Isabell McLennnan – 2002, brother-in-law Jim – 1997; sister Lillian Addison – 2015, brother-in-law Doug – 1977; brother-in-law Fred Donley – 2010; sister-in-law Orjetta Dockrill – 2009, brother-in-law Art – 2008; brother-in-law Sam Irvine – 1995, sister-in-law Betty – 2010.
Nephews Gerry McFadden -1982, Dennis Moss - 2004, and Ted Donley - 2016; niece Lori Addison - 1996 and dear friends Bill Flegal and Elmer Fedderson.
Theo leaves many relatives and friends to pack her treasured stories to the next level, but specially dear are her daughter Shirley (Gary) Pigeon, her son Ken Irvine, her grandchildren Trever (Renee) Pigeon, Tami (Clint) McGill, Hailey and Blake Irvine, and her dear great grandchildren, Sawyer and Cameron Pigeon, Adam and Alli Borrow, and Korie McGill. Also to dearly remember Theo are her sister Margaret Donley of Comox, B.C. and Jim (Millie) Moss of Red Deer, Alberta.
Memorial service to be held in May, 2017.