Irene Kowalski-Kennetz

Irene Kowalski-Kennetz (78) passed away on July 14, 2020, after a 3-week cancer-caused illness. The daughter of Mary & Michael V. Kowalski, she lived her early years above the family’s funeral home on 18th St. in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago and attended St. Adalbert’s School. After high school she briefly became a member of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, graduated from DeLourdes College and later received an M.Ed from Governors State University which led her to a lifelong career in teaching. She was a founding faculty member of Nathan Hale Elementary School, Schaumburg, and remained there for over 30 years both teaching and serving as the school resource librarian and retired in 2003.
She had many nicknames, “Bobby,” “Renee,” “Gracy,” and “Philasof.” She loved gardening, yellow roses, cheese and crackers in the middle of the night, homemade apple pie, singing, and playing the flute. Her favorites were the Red Lobster restaurant, Dewar’s Scotch, Neil Diamond songs, Cubs baseball and trips downtown with her family. Although she remained in the Chicagoland area her whole life, she was fond of travelling and visiting such places as the Grand Canyon, Denali, Alaska, and Abu Dhabi, UAE. Her proudest moments were in the accomplishments of her three children with whom she shared many joyous occasions.
She served her family, friends and community tirelessly during her life, was a devoted Catholic and encouraged others to “make a difference” in their communities. Always with a kind word for everyone and a consistently positive outlook on life, Irene also had a generous spirit and whenever eating out she would always make a habit of leaving a big-hearted tip behind for the wait staff, simply saying the was work too hard not to give a little extra.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, Helen (Wrobel) and Rita. She is survived by ex-husband, Gerald Kennetz; brothers Michael and Casey Kowalski; children, Keith, Lynne (Kevin Knapp) and Mark and numerous loving cousins, nieces and nephews, and life-long friends Carol Wolf, Karen Manno and Jeann Cetera.

A Memorial Service, preceded by a brief visitation, will take place Saturday, July 25, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. at Resurrection Church, Wayne, IL.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Make-a-Wish Foundation, the National Shrine of St. Jude or the Ignatia House Foundation, Chicago.

Arrangements were entrusted to Countryside Funeral Homes and Crematory, Bartlett. Info www.countrysidefuneralhomes.com or (630)289-7575