Irma Villarreal de Kowalski died on February 15, 2019 at approximately 5:00 a.m. at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Brownsville, Texas. She was a native of Brownsville and was 82. At the time of her death, she was in the company of her loving husband of 58 years, Fred Kowalski and her 6 children, Adela Kowalski-Garza, Fred Anthony Kowalski, Jorge Rafael Kowalski, Ana Julieta Kowalski-Solis, David Kowalski, and Daniel Kowalski. During her two-week stay at the hospital prior to her passing, she was surrounded by her family and numerous relatives and friends that came to visit her to show their love, comfort, and support. The Kowalski family thanks all of them from the bottom of our hearts.
Mrs. Kowalski was born on Veteran's day, November 11, 1936 in Brownsville. She was the youngest of 5, a twin, and the only daughter of Salvador Villarreal† of Mexico and Adela S. Villarreal† of Brownsville. She attended Incarnate Word Academy while her brothers, Salvador†, Oscar†, Luis Cesar and her twin brother, Guillermo Villarreal attended St. Joseph Academy in Brownsville. At the age of 14, she was enrolled at Colegio Labastida, a prestigious Catholic boarding school for girls near Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico where 5 years later, she graduated with honors as a bilingual business secretary.
On December 17, 1960, she married her childhood sweetheart, Fred Kowalski. They had 6 children. Mr. Kowalski, a veteran of the Korean War, became a certified federal court interpreter for the United States Courts for Southern District of Texas under the late federal U.S. District Judge Filemon B. Vela.
In 1973, Irma V. Kowalski founded "Kowalski English Institute" (Instituto de Ingles Kowalski) in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. There, she taught English as a second language to children and adults. She was recognized as an outstanding teacher by the local newspaper, "El Bravo" and received numerous accolades for her work as a teacher. She later taught ESL at Colegio Don Bosco in Matamoros and Incarnate Word Academy. She was famous for her passion for teaching and her fierce determination that all her students excel in mastering the English language.
Irma was a devout Catholic, a loving mother and wife, and an excellent teacher. As an ESL teacher, she began each class by reciting the "Lord's Prayer" in English with her students. She ended each class with an English song; her favorite being "Top of the World" by the Carpenters which was the last song she heard while still living on this earth.
In 2010, Irma founded "Rosario de Emaus", a group of friends dedicated to praying the rosary every Friday at Irma's house to obtain peace and "Coro Emaus", a Catholic choir headed by the youngest of her sons, Daniel Kowalski. Her favorite song was "Por la Calzada de Emaus".
Irma is survived by her husband, 6 children, 23 grandchildren and 10 great grand-children. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
