Irene Pelka, age 97, completed her life’s journey here on earth Friday Nov. 19.
Always devoted and faithful to her Catholic faith and to her family, Irene came from a large family of 13. Her father’s first wife died at a young age from pneumonia, leaving him with four young children. He remarried 8 ½ years later, and Irene was the second oldest of nine additional children born into the family.
She is survived by her sons Ron (Betty) Pelka, Don Pelka; daughter, Monica (Mike) Tyler; seven grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. She is also survived by son-in-law, Lyle Whitney; sisters Louise Kipen and Florence Reilly; brothers Henry (Cheryl) Makarewicz and Ted Makarewicz; sister-in-law, Eleanor Marker; brother-in-law, John Hinds; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Irene was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Edward Pelka; daughter, Carol Whitney; granddaughter, Tracy Worrell; and parents Casimier and Sophie Makarewicz. Also preceding in death were her brothers and sisters Kazimierz (also known as Charlie Jr.) Makarewicz, Helen Makarewicz, Bernice (Jimmie) Carowitz, Ben (Loretta) Makarewicz, Al (Florence) Marker, Edward Marker, Raymond Makarewicz, Lillian Hinds; brothers-in-law Dick Kipen and Tom Reilly.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21, at Kubiak-Cook Funeral Home, 312 N. Main St., Wayland, with prayers of the Rosary at 7:30 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 22, at St. Therese Catholic Church, 128 Cedar St., with visitation from 10 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to St. Therese Catholic Church, with a memo directed to their building and grounds fund.
