Irene was born on June 24th 1938 at Moon Lake on the outskirts of Edmonton, Canada where she grew up in the Ukrainian community. She graduated from the University of Alberta in Pharmacy. She worked as a pharmaceutical formulations chemist at Frost.
Irene enjoyed cooking, crafts, and traveling. She loved attending concerts, the theater, and museums. She especially liked spending time with family, specifically her grandchildren and great-grandson.
Irene’s memory will be cherished by her husband of 61 years Stanley Ackers, sister Stella Bendzera, children Marta-Louise Ackers, Kathryn Ackers Holmes, Paula Ackers Tanaka, grandchildren Sarah Holmes Crumpton, Emily Christine Holmes, Amy Rose Tanaka, Claire Marie Hightower, Alice Josephine Holmes, Ruby Kathryn Tanaka, Bryce Allen Hightower, and Yoshitaka Noah Tanaka and great-grandson Henry Holmes Crumpton.
Family and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Pius the Tenth Catholic Church on Tuesday August 18th, 2026 at 11 am. There will be no visitation but reception with light refreshments to follow mass in the church hall.
In lieu of flowers, to honor Irene’s lifelong love of reading, donations can be made in her name to Room to Read at https://www.roomtoread.org.
If you would like to send flowers please order them thru Botanica Flowers and Gifts at (336)288-1908 and ask for Cindy.
