Lily Irene Dube

The Livestream Link will be available HERE on the day of the service and will go live approximately 5 minutes before the event.

It is with a profound sense of loss that we announce that Lily Irene Dubé passed away on June 9. 2026. She died peacefully at home after her health progressively declined over the past 6 months.

Irene was born on July 25, 1936 in Wynyard Saskatchewan to Sigrun and Baldvin. Sigurdson. She was the 9th of 10 children. She attended Wynyard Composite High School and like her sister Jennie worked at Cameron and Pope Hardware store. In high school, she met the love of her life, a strapping young man from a farm just outside of Wynard, Leslie Dube.

She married the one great love of her life Leslie on April 18, Easter Sunday 1954 at St. Joseph's church in Saskatoon. They moved around as Les' work took him to Eston SK then back to Saskatoon while working for OK Economy and later Shelly Brothers. Les and Irene welcomed their daughter Deborah in 1955, then Donna in 1962 and finally David in 1964.

In 1967 Les started a produce importing business in Saskatoon and Irene worked as the bookkeeper. She took great pride in teaching the children their kindergarten and was always there to support their education while she worked to support the growth of the business. As their businesses grew and expanded, and the children grew up, Irene took on increasingly larger roles in Concorde Group and finished her career running the Pizza Hut Franchise for the province. She was not only the matriarch of the businesses she was a full partner to Les in everything they did. Seldom recognized for it publicly, she was Les' partner in building the businesses.

She served for 3 years on the Board of Governors of the University of Saskatchewan, and this brought her a deep belief in the power of education, as a societal game changer. She and Les created many scholarship funds to ensure, as much as possible, that monetary means would not be a barrier to entry for those desiring an education.

Mom was a worker and tough as nails. There was nothing she would not roll up her sleeves and do herself, which brought the admiration of those she worked with. And she was an Icelander! Although she never managed to visit her genetic homeland, she baked all the famous and family favorites around the holidays. She was tough, stubborn, opinionated, outspoken and yet also kind, loving and welcoming. She was of Viking blood without question, and proud of it.

Mom was a committed philanthropist alongside Les and some of their contributions are well known in the community but so many will never be known except for those who have been touched by them. That was part of what made them magical, even their children didn't know the breadth and depth of their giving.

Irene was a tremendous advocate for, and donor to, causes surrounding mental health and courageously shared, at a time when speaking of such things was uncommon, how mental health issues had impacted her life. She will always be remembered for the many hundreds of afghans she knitted and donated to hospital patients, care homes and many underprivileged. Mom always prayed while knitting so whoever received one would be blessed. This became her mission and she was uniquely known for donating her colorful afghans to so many she would never meet.

Irene and Les were each bestowed with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the University of Saskatchewan in 2007, were awarded the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2008 and were invested with the Order of Canada in 2016. In 2013 they were awarded the Outstanding Philanthropists of the Year for North America by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

An exceptionally private person, Mom loved nothing more than being at home with her puppies following Les' death in 2024 She was a devout Catholic having converted before marrying Les. She enjoyed the friends who would visit her regularly following Les' death and seeing her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mom was especially proud to have her great-great grandchild in a 5-generation photo last year.

Irene was predeceased by her husband Les, her parents Sigrun and Baldvin, her brothers - Baldur, John, Woodrow, Wally and Alstan and Ray Sigurdson, her sisters Dora Collins and Jean Pytlowany and Jennie Sigurdson.

Irene is survived by her children Debi Dubé-Dean (Bill Dean), Dawna Dubé-Veitenheimer (Curtis) and L. David Dubé (Heather Ryan), 3 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild and her beloved puppies Ginger and Sugar.

The family would like to thank the Home Instead Care Pro Team members who have made the last 2+ years of her life of living at home independently possible, Maegan, Jasmyn, Yu Wah, Madison, Sherri, Neha, Kerri and Brooklyn.

Also special thanks to Dr. Liz Snead and 'Team Sugar' who took such great care of Moms beloved Dogs Sugar and Ginger.

Thank you to all of Mom's doctors and the entire Intermediate Care Services Team, the Community Paramedics and especially Dr. Nelly Helms who was our guardian angel as Mom's health declined, right up until her passing.

She was always a great Mom! Sjáumst hinum megin, sæta engill

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Red Cross Saskatchewan or the Dube Endowed Funds at the Saskatoon Community Foundation are meaningful and appreciated.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated on Friday, June 19th, 2026 at 2:00 pm at St. Paul's Roman Catholic Co-Cathedral with a reception following at the Sheraton Hotel, Top of the Inn.