MASSENA – Mrs. Irene G. Szarka, 95, passed away early Wednesday morning, August 23, 2017, surrounded by loving family at the Highland Nursing Home, where she had been a resident since December 2012. Irene was a long time resident of Belmont Street, but as her health declined she moved to the Highland Nursing Home, where the care she received and the friendships she gained were as important to her as family.
Irene was born November 3, 1921 in Massena, the daughter of the late Stephen and Theresa (Ardenhazy) Geng and was a 1939 graduate of Massena High School. On November 9, 1939, she married Andrew C. Szarka at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Rev. John M. Bellamy, officiating. Andy predeceased her on May 26, 2010. Their nearly 71 years of marriage gave them many wonderful and exciting opportunities, of which their most cherished was their adventurous journeys across the United States towing their camper.
In 1954, Irene started working the Mica Plant in Massena, where she continued until 1970. She also worked at Alcoa and J.J. Newberry’s for a time. In 1974, she started with Central Service Bureau in Massena, where she was a teletype operator, typist, and filing clerk until her retirement in 1981. Irene was a lifelong communicant of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, a member of the League of the Sacred Heart, Knights of Columbus Auxiliary and the Knights of Columbus Retirees Club. Irene was also a member the Massena and the St. Regis Mohawk Senior Citizens and was proud to be an associate member of the Seaway Valley Modelaires.
She had a vibrant zest for life and enjoyed gardening, reading, and the precious time she was able to spend with her family. Irene was lovingly known as “Nanny” by her grandchildren. She loved the North Country, the mountains and Nature’s unique beauty. There truly was “no place like home” for Nanny, and she greatly enjoyed being a homemaker, a care-giver to her dear brother, James; road trips and family gatherings with her cherished husband, and meals with family members at Spanky’s Diner.
Irene is survived her children, Joan Szarka-Eddy and her husband, James, Eric “Rick” Szarka and his companion, Esther Reid; and Andrew S. Szarka, all of Massena; 8 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren and 9 great-great grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and her husband, Irene was preceded in death by a son and daughter-in-law, Jay R. and Janet Szarka and their son, Jay II; and her most beloved brother, James Molnar.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday 11:00 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Her family will receive friends prior to the mass. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Massena.
Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to St. Mary’s Church Memorial Fund or Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley.
Arrangements are with the Donaldson Funeral Home, Massena, where memories and condolences may be shared online at www.donaldsonfh.com.