CLASSEN; Iris May (Louw)
1925 - 2016
Iris May Classen passed peacefully in her 91st year at Valleyhaven Retirement Community in Chilliwack, BC, Canada on Tuesday, November 8th, 2016. Iris was born in Diepriver, South Africa on March 26th, 1925 to Peter and Louise Louw. She married Ed Classen on January 10th, 1953 and immigrated to Canada with her family in 1971. Iris worked for many years in the credit department of Zellers, Chilliwack. Iris was dedicated to Cookes Presbyterian and served the church Seniors Fellowship. She would spend time organizing and planning outing and luncheons and events for the seniors as well as working with knitting bees for Malawi. She took so much pride in creating wonderful meals and sharing them with the many who would join her and her family at their table. Iris optimized giving, constantly cooking, baking and knitting. She will be remembered for her attention to detail and her dedication to others near and far. Iris was predeceased by her lovely husband of sixty-one years, Ed Classen. She will be missed greatly by her sons Graham Classen of Richmond; Peter Classen of Vancouver; her grandchildren Seneca Classen-Pottie (Dean Pottie) of Nova Scotia; Liam Classen of Richmond; great granddaughters Laila & Zoe Pottie of Nova Scotia; extended family Cherie Roy of Chilliwack; Wendy and Rachel Dwyer of Richmond. She is survived by her sister-in-law Agnes Stark and family of Capetown, S.A.; sister Dorothea Ulster and family of Capetown, S.A.; brother and sister-in-law Peter and Millie Louw and family of Surrey. The family would like to thank the many people who have been so important in the past few years. Your love, support and devotion can never be repaid and will never be forgotten. It is your strength that has held us up and your selflessness that has carried us through. We would like to extend our gratitude to the staff at Valleyhaven Retirement Community, the dignity and care you have shown us and our mother, grandmother and great grandmother has not been over looked. A Celebration of Life with be held on Thursday, November 17, 2016 at 2:00 PM at Cookes Presbyterian Church, 45825 Wellington Ave, Chilliwack, BC. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Cookes Presbyterian Memorial Fund.