IRENE ALEXANDRIA ZAKALA (TORSKY)

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IRENE ALEXANDRIA ZAKALA (nee TORSKY) Peacefully, on August 7, 2010, Irene Alexandria Zakala passed away at Concordia Hospital following a short illness. Irene is survived by husband, William (Bill), daughter Patricia Zakala Denman and son-in-law Ken Denman, granddaughters Taryn and Courtney Denman, sisters, Eleanor Grywinski and Olga Bonnefoy, brothers-in-law George Bonnefoy and William Solomon, as well as many nieces and nephews that she loved dearly. She is predeceased by mother, Anastasia Torsky in 1958, father, Nicholas in 1966, son Glen William in 1973 and sister, Kathleen Solomon in 1995. Irene was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1927. Her parents, Nicholas and Anastasia moved to Rossburn, Manitoba shortly thereafter. Her family relocated to Fisher Branch when she was a teenager. She later left to attend Isaac Newton High School in Winnipeg. Following her graduation from high school, she worked for Cockshutt Plow in Winnipeg. She and Bill married in 1948. Their son Glen was born in 1952, followed by the arrival of daughter Patricia in 1959. Irene and Bill were some of the founding members of the Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba in the early 1960s. With their dear friends Bob and Agnes Boden, and the other members, they worked tirelessly to create an association that would benefit those afflicted with the disability like their sons Glen and Barry. Irene was devoted to her family and extended family. In 1970 it was necessary for her family to relocate to Montreal. Although it was difficult being separated from her son, who remained behind at the Manitoba Develop-mental Centre in Portage la Prairie, and her extended family, she made the most of the experience. She quickly surrounded herself with a new group of close friends who became her second family . She also took French lessons and decided to teach herself to swim and to ride a bicycle. In 1980, she and Bill returned to Winnipeg to stay. Her first granddaughter, Taryn was born later that year, followed by her second granddaughter, Courtney, in 1982. Irene was a devoted grandmother. Baba travelled frequently to spend time with her grand-daughters. They were the lights of her life. For the last two years, Irene was a resident of the Kildonan Personal Care Home. Her family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff there for making her stay there so enjoyable. Funeral service will be held 1:00 p.m. Friday, August 13 at Korban Funeral Chapel, 907 Main St. Interment will follow at Brookside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family would be most grateful for donations made to the Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba, 105 - 500 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 3X1. KORBAN FUNERAL CHAPEL 956-2193

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 11, 2010