Irene Estelle Marek, 89, born in Cooks Point, Texas, passed away on Saturday, January 5th 2019 at Hospice of St. Francis in Titusville, Florida.
The funeral service was set: Wednesday, January 9th 2019 for 2pm at the Brevard Memorial Funeral Home in Cocoa, Florida with Reverend Robert Willike officiating. Internment is to follow at the New Tabor Cemetery in Caldwell, Texas.
Irene was born on March 7, 1929, the daughter of Walter Robert Hlavaty and Matilda Ann Hejl in Cooks Point, Burleson County, Texas.
In Texas, she was baptized and a member of the Czech Moravian Brethren Church in Caldwell and her God parents were her Uncle Joe & Aunt Mary Hejl. She became a member of the SPJST Lodge #17 in New Tabor. Later in Florida, she attended the First United Methodist Church.
The schools she attended in Burleson County, Texas were from Cooks Point-1st, Red Hollow-2nd & 4th, San Antonio Prairie-3rd, New Tabor-5th, Snook-6th & 7th to Caldwell-8th-10th. She could not go to school while married at that time, so later in Florida she finished her high school education with a GED.
Being a cashier at the Boedecker grocery store in Caldwell, TX. was her first job, at age 15. Two years later, she met Raymond Joseph Marek, Sr. at the Deanville Dance Hall. They were married on June 3, 1946 at the Czech Moravian Brethren Church in Caldwell, TX. by Reverend Henry E. Beseda, Sr. They built their home on Rt. 1 at the west side of Caldwell. Irene became a housewife, gardener, farmed cotton in the Brazos area and did ironing for others. In 1958, Ray’s job was transferred to Cape Canaveral, Florida. After moving, she had various jobs ironing and sewing. In 1968-70, she enjoyed working at Montgomery Wards in Cocoa and Sears in Rockledge. In 1971-73, she started working with micro-components at Radiation in Melbourne, at Harris in Palm Bay and then with soldering electronics at Westrex in Cocoa Beach. A change to work at an antique store in Sharpes was closer to home. In 1974, she did laundry at the Radison Hotel in Cocoa Beach and then became a lunchroom cook for the Brevard County School System. Being an assistant manager, she then delivered meals to 2-3 other schools and retired in 1987.
Irene enjoyed fishing, traveling, camping, looking for shells on the beach and was once on a womens baseball team. She loved to bake and did pass on her favorite recipe of poppy-seed kolache. Playing dominos was a game that everyone in the family enjoyed together. She loved to grow flowers . Her favorites were sunflowers, amaryllis and orchids.
After living in Cocoa, Florida for 50 years, Irene and Ray moved back to Bryan, Texas in 2008. They reconnected with family, old friends in their hometown area, was able to go to family reunions and made new friends, while living at St. Joseph’s Manor Assisted Living. Then after Ray passed away in 2014, Irene moved back to Florida closer to other family members. At Brookdale Senior Living, she enjoyed helping others, making new friends and learning new games.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Raymond J. Marek Sr., one child Raymond J. Marek Jr., daughter-in-law Beth R. G. Marek, and brother-in-law Hubert Haisler.
Survivors include 4 children and spouses; Ronald and Nancy Marek (Caldwell, Tx), Vivian and Richard Boltz (Port Orange, FL), Peggy and Richard Alder (Titusville, FL), and Larry and Young Nam Marek (Titusville, FL); her brother, Edwin Hlavaty; her sister, Joyce Haisler; 10 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, and a host of other family members and friends.
(Memorials may be made to Hospice of St. Francis, 1250-B Grumman Place, Titusville, Florida 32780. 1-866-269-4240).
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