With great sadness her children announce the passing of Irene Alice Martha Wedeles (nee Feitelberg) after a lengthy period of declining health, on September 18, 2010 at the Brant Centre, Burlington. Born in Paderborn, Germany on October 29, 1923. A kind-hearted and strong-willed woman, she will be missed by all those whose lives she touched. Predeceased by her loving husband of 40 years, Herbert; her sisters Inge and Ellen; her brother Wolfgang; and her parents Alexander Feitelberg and Ilsa von Ruckteshell. Sadly missed by her children Peter, Chris, and Judy; daughters in-law Kathie and Elizabeth; and grandchildren Jennifer, Christopher, Jeremy, and Sally. Born in Germany between the wars, after a happy childhood her Jewish ancestry led to increasingly difficult times. She spent the war years in England with the help of the Quakers, and moved to Toronto in the early 1950's. After marrying, she earned university degrees, studying part-time while raising a family. Choosing education as her career, she taught with the Halton Board of Education in Oakville for almost 30 years, highlighted by many years of the teaching the enrichment program. In retirement, Mum remained very active in volunteer work, and in 2006 she was named Halton's Woman of the Year for her community service with many organizations, including the Ontario Retired Teachers' Federation, the Oakville Distress Centre, the Halton Elderly Services Advisory Committee, and the Victorian Order of Nurses Friendly Visitor Program. We will miss her humour and zeal for life. Goodbye Mum, Our Hero. Friends may call at the Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home, 64 Lakeshore Road West (one block east of Kerr, 905-844-2600), Oakville on Wednesday, September 22 from 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Funeral service will be held at St. John's United Church, 262 Randall St., Oakville, on Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 1 p.m. If desired, memorial donations may be made to The Canadian Christian Children's Fund or the Canadian Red Cross.