Irene Lucinda (nèe Mahood) (Smyth) Kempel 

Mrs. Irene Lucinda (nèe Mahood) (Smyth) Kempel of Goderich, and formerly of Kincardine, Teeswater and Wingham, passed away at the age of 93 at Alexandra Marine and General Hospital on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025 surrounded by her family.

 

Born on June 18, 1932 in Kincardine, Irene was the loving mother of Linda Brindley and Dennis Demerling of Goderich, Shirley and Murray McKague of Wingham, Karen and Michael MacDonald of Thunder Bay, Barbara Smyth of Goderich and Marilyn Smyth and Chris Gosleigh of London.

 

She was the cherished grandmother of Joe and Stephanie Brindley, Jonathan and Kim Brindley, Olivia and Devon Christiansen, Jason and Jessica McKague, Kristy and Bryce Moore-Bunney and Brent MacDonald, and the great-grandmother of William, Elizabeth Brindley, Chloe, Madison, Kyle Brindley, Jackson McKague, Vienna, Geneva Moore-Bunney and Blair MacDonald and the great-great-grandmother of Wylder Brindley.

 

Irene will be remembered by son-in-law Kenneth Brindley, extended family, and many cherished friends and neighbours.
She was predeceased by her parents, John and Laura Mahood, her husbands Evan Smyth and Ernest Kempel, twin sister Jean and Earl Thacker, parents-in-law John and Agnes Smyth, brother-in-law Ronald Smyth and son-in-law Bev Bromley.

 

Irene was a dedicated and familiar face in her community, always giving her time and talents to the people and organizations she cared about. She served for many years as Secretary of the Teeswater Fair Board and loved being part of the fair as an exhibitor, proudly showing her baking and preserves. 

 

She also worked in retail for years in Kincardine, Teeswater, Holyrood and Wingham. 

 

A long-time member of the Rebekah Lodge and the Red Hat Society, Irene treasured the friendships and laughter she shared with those groups and her card-playing friends. 

 

She was also an active part of the Seniors Day Centre in Wingham and Goderich. Irene’s warmth, kindness and cheerful spirit brightened the days of everyone around her in all endeavours of a life well lived.

 

The family would like to sincerely thank the staff of Southbridge Care Home Goderich, One-Care in Wingham and Goderich and the Goderich and Wingham Hospitals for the attentive and compassionate care she received over the years.

 

Visitation will be held at McBurney Funeral Home, Wingham on Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 11 a.m. until the funeral service at 12 p.m. Final resting place: Culross Cemetery, Teeswater.

 

Memorial donations to the Wingham and District Hospital Foundation or OneCare would be appreciated.

 

Online condolences at www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com