Irene Janikowski

IRENE HELEN JANIKOWSKI

Irene Helen Janikowski passed away at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN, in the company of her loving family on March 13, 2017, at the age of 93.

She was born on September 3, 1923, in Winona, MN, to Peter and Helen Merchlewitz. She married Joseph John Janikowski on May 13, 1946, at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, where she and her family were members.

Irene lived in Winona her entire life and was employed at Leicht Press prior to her marriage.   She was a full-time wife and mother to six children, of whom she was very proud.

She was a lifetime member of the Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka, where she volunteered on a regular basis and could be seen in her pew (upper left near the front) every Saturday for Mass.  She was also a member of the Winona Athletic Club and a social member of the Westfield Golf Course.

In her younger years, she was on the bowling team for Poot’s Tavern, and at one time rolled a score of 601 (it’s really true!).  In her later years she enjoyed traveling with her sister Celia, taking Harvest House Mystery Trips.

Along with her husband, she raised six children, cooking thousands of meals, washing 10s of thousands of dishes, folding newspapers for her paperboy sons and kept the household happy and running smoothly.  Irene’s focus on family extended into the community where she visited many home-bound friends and acquaintances and delivered for Meals-On-Wheels.  After Joe passed away in 2013, she moved into Sugar Loaf Senior Living and developed many new friendships with both residents and staff.

Irene is survived by her six children:  Roger (Patty), Gary (Steve), Becky (Dan), Tim (Christine), Julie (Bill), and Jean (Jeff); eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and sisters: Celia and Phyllis. She was preceded in death by her siblings: Leonard, Richard, Frank, Robert, and Margie.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 12:30 PM, on Friday, March 17, 2017, at the Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka.  The Reverend Monsignor Thomas J. Hargesheimer will officiate.

Irene will be laid to rest in Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis.

Visitation will be held at Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka, on Friday, March 17, from 11:30 AM until the time of the Mass.

The family respectfully asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials be directed to the Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka.

Online condolences or memories may be left for Irene’s family at: www. watkowski-mulyck.com.

Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.