Irene A. Kava

Irene A. Kava, 96, of Fullerton, passed away Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at Arbor Care Center in Fullerton.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Krakow (rural Genoa) with Reverend William L’Heureux officiating. Burial will follow at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery in Krakow. Visitation will be 4-6 p.m. with 6 p.m. vigil service Sunday, Sept. 29 at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Krakow. Palmer-Santin Funeral Home is serving the family.

Irene was born May 6, 1928, to Joseph and Valeria (Prososki) Kielian on the family farm southwest of Silver Creek. She went to country school and later graduated from Silver Creek High School in 1946. After graduation, she lived in Omaha for a couple years before moving back to Silver Creek to help take care of her mother. On Sept. 29, 1951, she was united in marriage to Lonnie Kava at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Silver Creek, and they made their home southeast of Fullerton. Irene held many jobs over the years including working at the hospital, selling Avon products, working at the Sportsman Club in Fullerton, but most years, she spent being a farm wife.

She was a member of Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and the altar society. She loved gardening and always had a house full of indoor plants. She also had a love of polka music and attended a lot of the events the Kava’s played at. Most of all, she loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband, Lonnie of Fullerton; children, Bill (Kim) Kava of Clarks and Kelly Kava and fiancée, Michelle Mariani, of Fremont; daughter-in-law, Shirley Kava of Clarks; grandchildren, Mandy (John) Wood of Gretna, Britny (Kevin) Loseke of Fullerton, and Hilary (Nick) Hoffman of Clarks; three great-grandchildren, Jayden  (fiancé, Aaron Elsenbrock) Wood, Jaxon Wood, Brooklynn Loseke, and Renlie Irene Hoffman; siblings, John (Sharon) Kielian of Colorado and Theresa Tarnick of Columbus; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her son, Jim Kava; her parents; brothers, Tony, Stanley, Louis, Robert, Alfred, Joe Jr., and Dominic; sisters, Rosie Kresha, Sophie Brewer, Mary Ann Bartusiak, and JoAnn Placzek; and many brothers and sisters-in law.