19, 2021. Always devoted and faithful to her Catholic faith and to her family, may our loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother now enjoy the promised life of eternal peace, love, and joy in heaven with our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Irene came from a large family of thirteen. 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.
Irene 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 loving 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 held from 6 - 8 p.m. on Sunday, November 21, 2021 at Kubiak-Cook Funeral Home - Wayland Chapel, 312 N. Main St., Wayland, MI 49348, with prayers of the Rosary at 7:30 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 22, 2021 at St. Therese Catholic Church, 128 Cedar St., Wayland, MI 49348 with visitation from 10 - 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. The family welcomes memories and messages in their guest book online at www.kubiakcookwayland.com.
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