Irene was born the 9th of 13 children on October 28, 1922 in Smithmill, PA, the daughter of the late John and Catherine (nee Kopelchack) Warholic. She was the devoted wife of the late Frank for 55 years; loving mother of Mary Rita, Robert (Denise) and Frances; dear sister of Martha Svehla and sister-in-law of Sue Warholic (widow of Mike) and Joanie Duke Matia (John Matia); aunt of more than 50 nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her siblings Anna Seckinger, Eva Chromoho, Mary Finch, twins Michael and Helen, Wasco, twins Christine Palus and Catherine Lawrence, John, and twins Stacy and Stella.
A DUAGHTER'S MEMORIES
Mom grew up in Beccaria Pa, a very small town not even on most maps. Her Dad John worked in a coal mine, her Mother Catherine raised 13 children, including 3 sets of twins. My Mom loved children and helped take care of her younger brothers and sisters. She didn't go to high school, but loved reading. She would sneak off from her chores to read. It was hard when her eyesight failed. Our parents valued education and sacrificed so the 3 of us could go to college.
She lived in a large house, with a big front porch complete with a swing and set of wicker furniture and flower boxes , filled with petunias between wooden pillars. She said they were poor growing up, but to me it looked like a manor from Gone With the Wind.
There was a huge kitchen with a coal stove, for canning and making strawberry jam. 4 upstairs bedrooms, one large enough for big beds. Her Dad would stand at the foot of the stairs and say the Our Father in Ukrainian when the kids were in bed for the night.
There were free range chickens, 2 pigs, a cow and a horse and a barn but they said this was not a farm as they didn't raise crops or livestock to sell. To us kids it was a farm, we spent 2 weeks with my grandparents every summer, spoiled by Aunts Stella, Mary, Anne and Eve, We played with Aunt Sue's Kathy and John. My parents only got to see their parents once a year, and we saw all 4 grandparents and Aunt Joanie and Uncle John and more cousins at the Duke farm. Aunt Joanie always made us so welcome even though she had Grandma Duke and 6 kids of her own to take care of. To me it was better than Disneyworld. They had a dog, and lots of cats.Who needs Mickey?
Mom's future husband Frank grew up on this “real” farm walking distance away. Dad came to Cleveland to work at GE, mom left her home and worked as a live- in house keeper so they could save money to get married. Once her employer saw how good mom was with kids, taking care of the 2 young boys was her main job.
They married in 1944, and lived with Dad's sister's Marge and husband Bill, and Emma also married to a man named Bill. Other sisters and their husbands lived with them until the families grew an then moved out to their own homes.
They moved to the West Side, in a house that Aunt Dorothy, Dad's Sister and Uncle Wasco, Mom's older brother, found .We have great times with their 4 sons a couple times a year. This is where my brother Bob, sister Frances and I grew up. Bob married Denise, we stay close.
Mom often said how Wasco looked after her, and once cut up the lining of her Mom's coat to make a doll's dress. My Grandmother didn't get too mad. Mom takes after her a lot
We are blessed with so many Aunts and Uncles and cousins and happy times
And Mom and Dad who loved us.
A visitation for Irene will be held at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, 14040 Puritas Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44135 on Thursday, January 27, 2022 at 10:00 AM with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at All Saints Cemetery, Northfield, OH.
Please observe social distancing and wear a mask.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital www.stjude.org
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.craciunfuneralhome.com for the Duke family.
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