We announce with great sadness the passing of Irene H. (Zubik) Grazulis, of De Pere, WI, formerly of Ambridge, PA. Irene passed away peacefully at Unity Hospice Meng House surrounded by family on February 4th, 2024. Irene was born in Ambridge, PA on April 5th, 1931 to the late Carl Zubik and Helen (Navalance) Zubik. Irene attended St. Stanislaus grade school and Ambridge High School. She worked in Davidson’s Department Store and retired later from Ambridge School District as a lunch monitor, most of the years at State Street School, she was called Ms. Irene. She loved helping children and they loved her. In her earlier years, she was a member of Catholic Daughters of America in Pennsylvania and Las Vegas, NV. She was also an active member of St. Stanislaus Church and Christian Mothers. She later transferred to Good Samaritan Parish, a chair memberand Christian Mothers Guild, when in 2014, she and her sister Ceil, were crowned May Queen of the year. She was also a member of the Harmony Township Civic Club, Baden Circle of Friends, Ladies of Charity Good Samaritan and the Pierogi Project. Also a volunteer at Sewickley Hospital patient registration. In 1964, Irene, her husband Bill and daughter Karen relocated to Monterey Park, CA where Bill received a management position with JC Penney. In 1970 transferred to San Diego, CA, then in 1976 to Las Vegas, NV where she was also very active in the church they attended. In 1986, Irene moved back to PA where she resided in Baden for 34 years, then to De Pere, WI with her daughter Karen to spend time with her granddaughter Tami, John, Holt and Taft. She enjoyed cross stitching, most of all baking cookies for the holidays and special occasions. She LOVED playing bingo and sending cards to everyone she loved. Irene was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill, daughter Karen Keele (Grazulis), sister Frances Zubik, brother Stanley and Susan Zubik, Sister Ceil and Rudy Tabinowski, sister Gertrude and Ernest (Reds) Orler and godchild Gretchen(Orler) Hein. She is survived by her granddaughter Tami (Keele) and John Wojciechowski of WI, Drew and Jerie Keele of Baden, two great grandsons Holt and Taft and many nieces and nephews.The family would like to extend a special thank you to the nurses and CNA’s at Bellin Hospital and Unity Hospice. Thank you to Olivia, McKenna, Jenn, Haley, Johnna, Soka, Rikki and Stacy. In lieu of flowers please donate to Little Sisters of the Poor, 1028 Benton Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Friends and family will be received on Friday, February 09, 2024, from 2-4 and 6-8 PM in the Alvarez-Hahn Funeral Services and Cremation, 547 8th Street, Ambridge, 724-266-2549. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, February 10, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Saint Luke the Evangelist Church, Ambridge, with her nephew, Bishop David Zubik, as celebrant.
