Iris Vazquez

Iris Vázquez was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 1, 1934, and passed away on March 12, 2026, in St. George, Utah.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfredo Vázquez, and is survived by her son, Marcelo Vazquez; her daughter-in-law, Amy Miller; and her grandson, Oliver Vázquez.

Iris spent part of her early life in Bariloche, Argentina, where she was raised by her parents, Onisim Portnow and Grunia Portnow. Surrounded by the beauty of Patagonia, she developed a lifelong love of the outdoors, especially camping and hiking. She later met her future husband while working in her mother’s appliance store in Bariloche. They went on to date as students at the University of Buenos Aires, where Iris earned her degree in architecture and Alfredo earned his medical degree.

She later moved with her parents to Los Angeles, California, and began the next chapter of her life in North America. She and Alfredo eventually settled in Chicago, where their son Marcelo was born. They later moved to Winnipeg, Canada, where Alfredo completed his residency, before returning to the western suburbs of Chicago and settling in Elmhurst in 1971.

The family’s connection to Minaki, Ontario began during their Winnipeg years and remained one of the great constants of family life for decades to come. What began with camping on a remote island property grew over time into the planning and building of a cabin, with each addition becoming part of the rhythm of their lives. Iris and Alfredo would pore over drawings together, and many vacations were spent turning those plans into reality over the course of long summer stays. Iris contributed not only to the design and planning, but also to the physical work of building. In later years, she carried that tradition forward with her young grandson, Oliver, as they spent time together over colored-pencil drawings for future cottage additions and improvements. It was one of the many ways she shared her eye for space, beauty, and possibility with him. The cabin remains a special place for the family, and her ashes will be scattered there.

Architecture and design remained an important part of Iris’s life. She worked in the field in both Winnipeg and Chicago and built a life shaped by her love of architecture, design, and beautiful spaces. She was especially drawn to the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and to the architecture of Chicago. She also prepared renovation drawings for others, often simply for the pleasure of helping.

In 1999, she moved to the St. George area, where she built a home near lifelong friends. She loved walking, movies, and the companionship of close friends. She was especially happy hiking in Utah, something that echoed her early years in Patagonia. She maintained lifelong friendships from Argentina, stayed deeply connected to friends in St. George and beyond, and made many dear friends along the way.

Iris was gentle, kind, and patient. She was delicate and soft-spoken, but also funny and smart. She was generous by nature and never needed to be the center of attention, often preferring to shine the light on others. Her Argentine accent stayed with her throughout her life and remained part of the warmth and grace people will remember.