Irene Salemka McGillivray, LL.D. (Saskatchewan), died at her home in Collingwood, Ontario, Sunday August 27, 2017, after a long illness. She managed it with the grace and elegance that she had practiced over the years in thousands of rehearsals and hundreds of opera performances. All that was lacking was a final aria. Irene was the daughter of the Reverend August Paul Salemka, a Lutheran pastor, and his wife, Matilda Schmitke Salemka. She was born in Friedensfeld, Hanover Township, near Steinbach, MB. She lived in Biggar, Weyburn, Regina, Montréal, PQ, Frankfurt am Main, and, for the past 40 years, in Collingwood. She sang leading soprano roles in the major opera houses of Germany, Austria, Great Britain and Canada during her 30-year career. She is predeceased by her parents and her sister, Lillian Kreutzer, and her brothers, Paul Romnes, Arthur Salemka and Martin Sayles. She is survived by her husband, Doctor James McGillivray and his children and by many cousins, nieces and nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren. A Service of Christian Burial took place at the Church of the Redeemer, Duntroon, Ontario, on Friday, September 1. Cremation to follow and burial to take place in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, later in September. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Church of the Redeemer or Christ our Hope Lutheran Church, through Fawcett Funeral Home. Friends may visit Irene’s online Book of Memories at www.fawcettfuneralhomes.com. Arrangements in care of Fawcett Funeral Home, 82 Pine Street, Collingwood, ON, 705-445-2651.
