Irene Alice Cannon, 94, born Irene Alice Guillet, on February 26, 1919, to Rene and Delia Guillet, in E. Jaffrey, N.H., passed away peacefully at St. Simeon's Memory Center in Tulsa on Monday, December 2, 2013. Irene grew up on a farm in Vermont, one of eight children. She loved learning and made numerous sacrifices in order to be the first sibling in her family to graduate from high school and fulfill her lifelong dream to become a nurse. She received her nurses training at Cumberland Hospital School of Nursing, passing her RN State Board Exam in 1943, finally achieving her dream. At that time, nurses were in short supply in the armed forces; wanting to help with the war effort, Irene and her best friend joined the US Navy. It is there that she met and married the love of her life, Norman Wayne Cannon, a Navy pilot, on June 30, 1945. After the war, Irene and Norm moved to Evanston, Missouri. They bought their first house, using Irene's savings, and started their family, which eventually included four daughters. Irene set aside her nursing career to create a home and raise her family. She was a natural at mothering and she continued to use her medical training to provide personal health care to family and friends. Always resourceful at making ends meet, Irene found time to sew her girl's clothes, bake elaborate birthday cakes, and give back to her community and church in many ways. Irene was supportive to her husband, while Norman was working and attending graduate school at Rockhurst College to earn a degree in Business Administration. He landed a government job with the FAA, and was offered a transfer to move to Frankfurt, Germany from 1959-1963. It was an exciting adventure for Irene, who loved to travel, experience other cultures, and provide great learning experiences for her children. It turned out she was a fearless navigator and travel guide, reading from the travel books as we were about to embark on each new country. The family vacations consisted of many driving and camping excursions to most all of the European countries. Growing up bi-lingual and being fluent in French and English became a huge advantage for Irene and the family, especially in French-speaking areas. Lots of lifelong memories and friendships were made with FAA families that continued throughout her life. After moving back to the states, the family lived in Raytown, MO where the two oldest daughters graduated from high school. Later, they moved to Fairfax, VA when Norm was relocated to Washington, D.C. and a third daughter graduated. Then, their final move was to Oklahoma City, where they settled in Bethany, for the last 40 years of her life. Once the last daughter was graduated and gone, Irene worked part-time in her nursing capacity, in a doctor's office, hospital, factory, and finally as a Home Health Care provider, which provided her with many rewarding experiences. She and Norm continued to travel to places in the US, visiting relatives coast to coast. Anyone who knew Irene will recall her innate nurturing qualities, good listening skills, how selflessly she cared for others, and her boundless energy for hard work. She took pride in keeping her home neat and clean inside and out. She loved her plants and flowers, and would spend time appreciating them for their sheer beauty. Irene was a force to be reckoned with when it came time to attacking those piles of oak leaves every year, keeping up with her daughters even at the ripe "young" age of 90. Irene fulfilled her desire for social interaction during her retirement years by participating in bridge club, luncheons, water aerobics at the Y and Bible study group. Her deep spiritual faith sustained her throughout her life, especially the last 20 years she spent as a widow. Irene's incredible resolve, inner strength, and well-intentioned advice, held her family together for many years and she will be dearly missed. She was preceded in death by her husband, Norman; daughter, Jackie Todoki; her parents, Rene and Delia Guillet; her sisters, Yvonne and Rita; and her brothers, George, Maurice, Leo, and Arthur. She is survived by her daughters, Linda Bonacorso of Lincoln, NE, Karen Stegner and her husband Rick of Citrus Heights, CA, Dr. Kathy Cannon and her husband Dr. Doug Pittman of Tulsa; and her sister, Lorette Cloutier of Port St. Lucy, FL. She is also survived by grandchildren, Matthew Bramlette, Andrew Bonacorso, Bree, Joran, and Kylie Stegner, Megan and Eric Pittman, Erin and Brian Todoki; great-grandchildren, Seren and Azelyn Stegner-Reid and Zane Hearell (Stegner); and many nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and dear friends. Memorials may be made in Irene's name to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Viewing will be Friday, 9am-9pm, with family present from 6-8pm, at Mercer-Adams Funeral Service in Bethany. Services will be Saturday, December 7, 10:00am at St. Patrick's Catholic Church with interment in Chapel Hill Cemetery. Funeral Service Saturday, December 7, 2013 10:00 AM St. Patrick Catholic Church 2121 N. Portland Oklahoma City, OK 73107