Selma Concordia ( Penner ) Irwin
April 10, 1934 – November 16, 2014

Selma passed away at Riverview Health Center at the age of 80 years.

Predeceased by my parents Nicholas and Agatha Penner, brother Nick, sister Helen, brother-in-law Peter Kroeger and husband Ross, the love of my life. Survived by my daughter Kim (Greg) Ariano and son Jon (Suzette Vinci) Irwin, grandchildren Jason Ariano and Jodi (Rick) Reynolds and great grandchildren Haylee and Kenzie Reynolds, sister Margaret Penner, brother Alvin Penner and sister-in-law and dear friend Eileen Penner as well as my loving, caring nieces and nephews and their families.

At age 15 I left home to further my education and find my path in life. I spent 3 years at boarding school away from my family. As a graduate of the Grace Hospital School of nursing, I spent 2 years as a flight attendant with Trans Canada Airlines and 40 years nursing in various health facilities in Ontario and Manitoba, including 10 years with Medical Services in Northwestern Ontario.

After a near death experience in 1979, it was quite clear to me that I had a choice in how I would live my life. I had already realized that my interest lay in a more holistic way of healing the sick and I pursued that path through my studies in Therapeutic Touch, Healing Touch, and Reflexology, all energy based healing through touch and intention. I started to meditate, practiced yoga and walked the Labyrinth in my search for the "Holy" in life and discovered that God was in everyone and everything. God's church was the whole wide world, where all were given the gift of choice. The rest is up to us.

Cycling and walking slowed my journey and allowed me time to experience the wonders of life on this planet, and the wonders of nature and it's people, all of which taught me life lessons along the way. Wandering through South America for 6 months, cycling across Canada for 10 weeks and walking the Camino in Spain twice for 5 weeks each time, gave me the courage to follow my dreams, just by trusting people and having faith that the Universe would care for me. Those beliefs are the strengths that carried me through life's journeys, including my final one with ALS.

Early in my retirement, I had the good fortune to cross paths with Kathy Knowles, founder and director of the OSU Children's Library Fund, who had a passion for reading and promoting literacy in Ghana, West Africa. I volunteered for this amazing organization for the next 14 years, until my illness prevented me from continuing.

Thank you God. Thank you for a loving, caring family, faithful friends, and all the caregivers who became new friends.

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is all we have. Live in the present!

When we are long, long gone
The things that will matter
Are that love we shared
And the way that we cared
When we are long, long gone

Walk in Peace.

Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, November 20, 2014 at 1:00 P.M. at Mosaic Funeral Chapel, 1839 Inkster Blvd.

For online condolences or to light a memorial candle please log onto www.mosaicfunerals.ca