Mrs. Iris Rose Petrachek

children born to Peter and Julia Pawloski. After graduating high school, Iris taught

elementary grade school classes to children from other farm families until she entered

nursing school.

Upon graduation from nursing school, Iris became a Registered Nurse and worked

several assignments at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, including the emergency and

operating rooms. She met her future husband, Emil (“Sonny”) at a dance and they

married in 1955. Three sons, Robert, Timothy and John (“David”) were born to the

family as they made their home in Winnipeg.

In 1965, the family moved to Southern California, initially in Downey, near Iris’ sister

Helen and her family. Eventually, Sonny and Iris moved the family to Santee and later to

El Cajon, where they purchased a home and settled down to raise their family.

Iris continued her nursing career at Grossmont Hospital, again working various

assignments until settling in labor and delivery. She loved working with new mothers

and babies. When Sonny’s work took him to central California, he and Iris moved to

Modesto where Iris worked in the hospital for a few years. They soon returned to El

Cajon and Iris resumed her nursing career at Grossmont until retiring.

Iris nursing career took a different direction when she began working for the San Diego

Sheriff’s Department, then later with the County Probation department at various honor

camps. After several years she retired again and became more active with her church,

Our Lady of Grace Catholic church in El Cajon. Her beloved mate Sonny passed away

suddenly in April, 2000.

Iris always focused on the good in people and often found their positive qualities. She

loved her nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-nieces and nephews. Her hobbies

included reading almost any novel, word puzzles and board games, especially Scrabble

and following afternoon soap operas.

She will be dearly missed by all those who knew her smile, the twinkle in her eye and her

calming voice.