Irene was born in Lethbridge on July 10, 1924 and raised on the family farm in the Readymade district. She attended public school and worked the family farm, often hoeing sugar beets for her older brothers until marrying Michal Hazuda on November 21, 1946.

Having her own farm was Irene’s dream. In search of that dream, Irene and Mike worked as farm laborers, those darn sugar beets, until purchasing their first farm east of Coaldale in 1951. For the first time she hoed sugar beets for herself. However, this was not enough work for Irene and farm land was increased until her present farm in the Sunnyside district. On this farm, she never planted sugar beets. After seven years of sugar beets, the focus became family and two girls were born, Karen Mary in 1953 and Connie Jane arrived in 1956. In 1961, the family moved to Lethbridge where Irene worked for the Green Acres Foundation until she retired in 1989.

Following retirement, Irene now had time to work on her farm and finish farm projects. She was an active member and elder in the Southminster United Church for many years. Irene volunteered for the Lethbridge Soup Kitchen and joined the Lethbridge Senior Center, where she especially loved the members of the walking club. In 2021, Irene moved back onto the farm, with family, where she resided until her passing.

Having survived many of life’s trials and tribulations, Irene was almost unstoppable and a force to be reckoned with until the very end. Surviving cancer was particularly significant to Irene which led her to participate in several cancer charities over the years, for example the Relay For Life.

The stars in Irene’s sky were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She frequently enjoyed working with them in the garden or yard, or spending quiet time cuddled with on the couch with a game or book.

Left to cherish her memory are two daughters Karen (Ray) Brownlee and Connie (Hal Gallup) Schulz. Four grandchildren: Tom (Inna) Schulz (Vancouver), Brenton Schulz, Robyn Brownlee (Jordan Brown), Logan Brownlee. Four great-grandchildren: Zaidan Schulz, Peyton Brownlee, Isabella Mirkovich, and Parker Brown.

Irene was predeceased by her husband Michal Hazuda (married 51 years), all of her siblings and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, one son-in-law (Martin Schulz), some nieces and nephews, and many friends and colleagues.

Viewing will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2825 32 Street South, Lethbridge, on Sunday, January 21st, from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. A short prayer service will be held at 6:30 P.M.

The Funeral Service will be held at the SOUTHMINSTER UNITED CHURCH, 1104-4th Avenue South, Lethbridge, on Monday, January 22nd, at 10:30 A.M., with Reverend Carol Many Chief officiating. The Funeral Service will be live-streamed and may be viewed through Irene’s obituary on the Cornerstone website.

Irene will be laid to rest at Mountain View Cemetery.