Irene E. Okonek, 83, Stevens Point, died at her home on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2004, while under the care of Ministry Home Care - Hospice Services.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, with the Rev. Tom Lindner officiating. Burial will be in Guardian Angel Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. Monday at the church until the services.
Memorials in her name may be made to the Dialysis Unit at St. Michael's Hospital in lieu of flowers.
Pisarski-Dzikoski Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
Mrs. Okonek was born July 17, 1920, in Stevens Point, a daughter of the late Thomas and Emily Gietkowski. She graduated from Emerson High School in 1937 and attended the Central State Teachers College (now the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point).
She worked for Hardware Mutual Insurance Co. (now Sentry Insurance) in both Texas and Chicago before returning to Stevens Point.
She was married to Leonard "Slim" Okonek on Sept. 29, 1951, at St. Peter Catholic Church in Stevens Point. He died Jan. 15, 1971.
The couple resided at 1324 Minnesota Ave. all of their married life and she continued to live there until her death.
She received a Yard Beautification Award in 1972 from the city, and in 1989 she was selected to serve as the Grand Marshal of the Milwaukee Circus Parade.
Survivors include three sons, Steve (Bonnie), Half Moon Bay, Calif., Tom (Barb), Bloomington, Minn., and John (Margaret), Stevens Point; one daughter, Anne Okonek, Cornell, Mich.; one sister, Evelyn (Edward) Simarski of Milwaukee; and seven grandchildren.