Obituary of IRIS BRUNNING

BRUNNING, Iris (nee: Emery) – August 16, 1929 – March 18, 2022. Born in Dudley UK to Louis Emery and Frances Grey, passed away at Norfolk General Hospital in 93rd year. Beloved wife of the late Vincent Brunning. Loved mother of Rodger, Larry, Chris, and David. Cherished grandmother of Sarah, Matthew, Andrew, Jessie, Baden, Thomas, Peter, and great grandmother of Bryer, Ryah, Isla, Charlie Anne, and River. Predeceased by sisters Barb, Gwen, Frances, and June, and brothers Louis, Jack, and Ted. Iris arrived in Canada on June 17, 1949, moving to the Hamilton Ontario area and working for Studebaker Motors before marrying in 1951. By the 1960’s she began pouring her heart and soul into Chedoke Hospital and at her retirement in the early ‘80’s as a medical secretary, her boss Dr. Marson affectionately referred to her as “the little general.” Iris lost both her parents within 5 days of each other to the Spanish Flu/pneumonia. The children were placed in different foster homes and then came WWII. Iris mentioned once how the worst thing about sitting in the backyard bomb shelter was the ever present 2 inches of cold muddy water on the earthen floor. We are eternally grateful for the oldest sister Barb and her husband Bert, along with their children the twins, Jackie, and Patricia, who took young Iris and her little brother Teddy into their home. Special thanks to the selfless efforts of Chris and Larry Brunning for caring for Mum and keeping her at home in Waterford the last 12 years. Iris was a very generous person. Here is a poem she loved: Aedh Wishes for the Cloth of Heaven. Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths, Enwrought with golden and silver light, The blue and the dim and the dark cloths Of night and light and the half light, I would spread the cloths under your feet: But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams. W.B Yeats. A Celebration of Life for Iris will be announced later on my website. In lieu of flowers donations may be made out to The United Church of Canada, please be sure to note Emergency Response-Ukraine on the face of the cheque.