Irene Harlick

Irene Harlick passed away peacefully at The Meadows, surrounded by her children, on February 1, 2021.  Irene was born on March 3, 1934, northwest of Eastend in the Crossfell District.  Irene lost both her parents as a young child and she and her two brothers, Roy and Henry were raised by their Aunt Jenny and Uncle Andy Grabatin, who had 8 children of their own - Daniel, Gilbert, Arthur, Clarence, Shirley, Evelyn, Donna and Norman.  Irene spent her school years at Crossfell School and then went on to work at the Maple Creek Hospital.  She then moved to Medicine Hat where she married Austin Harlick, also from the Eastend area, on June 11, 1955.  They eventually relocated back to Saskatchewan and bought some land south of Eastend and started their own construction business - A.J. Harlick Earthmoving LTD., in 1963.  They worked tirelessly to make the business a success and in 1974 moved to Swift Current as a more central location for the business.  They built a new house on Whyte Avenue and it proved to be the best neighborhood in the city.  The neighbours had many block parties, coffee dates and weddings as a tight-knit group.  Austin and Irene went on sunny holidays every winter, often with friends from the neighbourhood.  Irene loved cruises and her favorite was travelling through the Panama Canal.  Mom opened her heart and home to friends and family and everyone remembers her infectious laughter and sometimes blunt, but hilarious word choices.  Friends and family knew our home was a place to gather and have fun without judgement.  Even though Austin and Irene went their separate ways, they continued family get togethers with their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Irene and her friends formed a long-term coffee group meeting every Tuesday morning for years and this continued until COVID-19 restrictions prevented mom from going out.  Mom had a wonderful life-long friend in Shirley Paczkoski and she valued her friendship for more than 55 years.  Mom's health began to decline and she moved to The Meadows in the spring of 2019.  When COVID-19 restrictions were implemented, it prevented mom from enjoying outings such as going to Beaver Flats with Sandra, Brian and Bruce, riding along with Cheryl to take meals to the field during harvest, joining her family for Christmas, birthdays and Sunday suppers.  The COVID-19 restrictions were so devastating to mom and we could slowly see it take a toll on her health.  Mom was predeceased by her parents Agnes and Emil Gust, her brothers Roy and Henry, son Dale (who died in infancy), son-in-law Brian Sharp, her nephews Dale Gust and Dean Bergen, and numerous other family members.  She is survived by her children, Bruce (daughter McKenna); Cheryl and her husband Carey Zacharias and their children Lyndsi (Jeff Downie) and their children (Irene's two greatgrandchildren) Nixson and Zachary; Lyndon (Kenley); Sandra and her children Riley Sharp (Taylor) and Madison Sharp.  She is also survived by her sister-in-law Margaret Gust, brother-in-law Rudy and Elsie Harlick, sister-in-law Rose Harlick and many nieces, nephews and cousins.  Donations may be made in Irene's memory to the Canadian Celiac Association, 1450 Meyerside Dr. Suite 503, Mississauga, ON L5T 2N5, or the S.P.C.A., Box 1163, Swift Current, SK S9H 3X3.  Warren's Funeral Home were entrusted with the arrangements.  For further information call 306-773-8831 or 1-800-267-6606, or visit our website at www.warrensfuneralhome.com and express your sympathy on the family tribute wall.

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