Community activist.
Born at Winnipeg on 22 December 1933, daughter of Cornelia “Cora” Vandersteen (1911-2008) and André Fernand “Andy” Rebiffe, her childhood was spent on the family farm near Fisher Branch. She attended Kelvin High School and later worked as a dental nurse, serving on the executive for the Dental Nurses Association of Winnipeg.
On 3 July 1954, she married Maurice Renaud at Winnipeg and they subsequently had three sons. She spent 30 years with Welcome Wagon, rising to become its President and Chief Executive Officer, and serving as Chairman of the Board for the longest period in the company’s history. In recognition of her community service, in 1992 she received the 125th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation Medal.
She died at Winnipeg on 5 October 2015.
“Irene Rebiffe chooses afternoon ceremony to wed Maurice Renaud,” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 July 1954, page 15.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 6 October 2015.
We thank Rick Dondo for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 20 November 2025
Memorable Manitobans
This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.
Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text:
Custom SearchBrowse surnames beginning with:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | ZBrowse deaths occurring in:
1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.caCriteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements
Help us keep
history alive!
