Iris June Rose Ainscough

Iris June Rose was born June 3, 1929, within the sound of the Bow Bells of St Mary-le-Bow Church in London's East End. As her name would imply, she was as beautiful a person as the most stunning flower blossoming on a brilliant summer day. Iris is remembered as a truly brave, sharply intelligent, hardworking, loving yet no-nonsense person who had a heart-warming laugh that came with a quick sense of humour. She was always learning and had a lifelong thirst for knowledge. She loved to sing, read, create, garden and was always up for adventure. Iris was astute, and always knew what was going on around her, from within the room she was in, to the world stage. Iris prided herself on staying current with the times, while she exhibited the true elegance of times past.

Born to working class parents Rose Barrett and Cold Stream Guard George Edward Rippon, Iris’s father tragically died before she was born. Iris always wanted to meet her father, and we know they have finally united. Rose Barrett later married Charles Petherick and Iris’s dearly loved siblings were born: two brothers, Ray and John, and her surviving three sisters, Peggy, Doris, and Rosemarie. Iris’s love for her family in England knew no bounds and she stayed close with them across the decades and distance wherever life took her.

Iris grew up in London during World War II and recalled praying as a child that she would become a grown up as she sheltered from the repeated bombings that were ripping apart the streets of London during those grave times. Iris always held her head high and put on a brave face. In her late teen years, she volunteered and served in Britain’s Women’s Land Army, earning her the status of being a veteran of the WLA that served during WWII. Afterwards Iris’s working career included public service roles such as a schoolteacher and managing accounts at Worksafe BC.

On August 17, 1945, Iris met the epic love of her life, 6th battalion paratrooper James Ainscough at a celebratory dance at the Tower Ballroom in New Brighton, Wallasey. Their love story was one for the ages, and James proposed at the Liverpool train station as he was headed overseas with his battalion. They were each others true loves until the day that they passed, and beyond. They were married for sixty-five years before James passed away September 11, 2011. They are survived by their four children Colin, Janice, Julie and Brenda, along with Grandchildren Aaron, Jocelyn, Meaghan, Tanis and Sophia, and Great Grandchildren Jacob and very soon to be born Willow. Their grandchildren Adrian and Liam are with them in heaven.

Iris and James were married in St. Margaret’s Church in Barking, England. From there they travelled together across many oceans and danced through countless adventures, eventually immigrating to New Zealand and finally Canada. They retired in Surrey, British Columbia on an acre and a half of English garden that they designed and curated themselves. Iris described her home as feeling like love.

Iris’s heart belonged walking hand in hand with her love James along the riverbanks, and on the coast under the warm glow of the Leasowe lighthouse in the Wirral. We know that Iris will never walk alone. Their story is one where love is eternal.

“We'll meet again Don't know where Don't know when But I know we'll meet again some sunny day”

-Vera Lyn