Irene Hvizdak Shestina was born on September 3rd, 1923 in Sharon, Pa., the daughter of the late Reverand Andrew and Anna Hvizdak. She was the beloved wife of the late Jerry Shestina and the loving mother of Valerie (Stephen) Michels and Heather (Robert) Galinas, cherished grandmother of Meghan (Jon) Briggs and Bobby Galinas and doting great-grandmother of Jack, Kate, Sammy and Christian Briggs. She was the dear sister of Olga (William, surviving) Abel (deceased), Anne (Harold) Foelber (deceased), Ruth (Merlin) Secrest (deceased), Gerald (Helen, surviving) Hvizdak (deceased), Louis Hvizdak (deceased) and George Hvizdak (deceased); beloved aunt of many.
Irene graduated cum laude from Capital University, Columbus, Ohio. She taught English and Latin at Concordia Lutheran High School (Fort Wayne, In.) and Brush High School (Lyndhurst, Ohio). Later, she worked as a substitute teacher for many years in the Cleveland, Rocky River and Fairview Park, Ohio school systems.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 29th from 4 to 7pm at Holick Craciun Funeral Home, 23040 Center Ridge Road Westlake, Ohio 44126. Her celebration of life service will be held at Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 9201 Brecksville Rd., Brecksville, Ohio 44141 on Wednesday, December 30th at 11am.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made either to Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church or Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.
