Irene was born in Paisley, Scotland on April 1, 1933, the youngest daughter of William and Williamina Brown. She grew up in Scotland and married her childhood sweetheart Tom Money in 1957. They moved to Canada with a five month-old daughter, Deborah, when Tom accepted a postdoctoral fellowship in organic Chemistry at the University of Western Ontario. Irene had to adjust to bringing up her daughter in a foreign country far from home and family.

After a year in Ontario, they moved to Vancouver when Tom joined the Chemistry Department at UBC. After 15 years of being a loving and supportive at home mother to Deborah and Stuart, Irene rejoined the workforce. She was very nervous about her abilities to return to being a secretary, but was very successful and soon became the Executive Assistant to the General Manager of Canada Mortgage and Housing (CMHC).

Apart from her family, Irene’s other enduring passion was dancing. Irene and Tom became very involved in Scottish Country dancing and soon were asked to join the RSCDS Demonstration Team. They then turned to ballroom dancing and were each awarded gold medal status.

In September of 1994, Irene and Tom became instant grandparents to Adam and Karyn when Debbie married Brad Fritz. Irene embraced this new role with love and understanding.

2007 marked the last full happy year for Irene and Tom. During the first 10 months of 2008 they danced and went on vacations to Largs and Palm Desert, but the year ended in tragedy when Irene was diagnosed with lung cancer. Irene attended the BC Cancer agency for countless appointments and was given the never-ending poor news about the prognosis for persons with lung cancer. Despite this she endured multiple courses of chemotherapy and radiation. She fought the illness with tremendous courage and good spirit and never once complained to Tom or others about the new reality. In the end, on May 31, 2013, Irene died at home by Tom’s side with Debbie holding her hand.

Irene was the anchor of the family, the rock that we all needed. No one ever faced adversity with more determination, humour and resolve, and she never let it get her down.

With husband Tom as a Professor Emeritus in Chemistry at UBC and daughter Deborah a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at UBC, they have chosen to direct donations through UBC. All gifts will directly support lung cancer research at the University.

It is the wish of Irene’s family that she be remembered by donations to support lung cancer research. It is the cancer that no one speaks about, but kills more women every year in Canada than any other cancer, including breast cancer.

With husband Tom as a Professor Emeritus in Chemistry at UBC and daughter Deborah a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at UBC, they have chosen to direct donations through UBC. All gifts will directly support lung cancer research at the University.