Freeport – Irene Gralewski, age 100, passed away September 10, 2021.  Irene was born June 1, 1921 to Frank and Josephine Piotrzkowski in Chicago, Il.  Irene married Stanley September 21, 1940 and he died March 27, 1977.

An original Rosie the Riveter, in 1944, she worked at a General Electric factory in Chicago making plane parts.  Then she traveled by train for 3 days from Chicago to California to be with her husband before he shipped out to the Pacific.

She moved to Freeport in 1984 and joined St. Joseph. She volunteered many hours in the St. Joseph kitchen for bingo, First Communions and Sunday coffee.  Irene loved to read and sewed beautifully.  She cherished spending time with her family especially her great-grandchildren.

She enjoyed traveling the world.  When she was young there were many car trips, then resort vacations and then combining the 2 into cruises.  She visited many of the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe and the Mediterranean and even Africa.

Her unconditional love, wisdom, common sense, inner strength and beautiful always-present smile assure that she will be dearly missed by all those that knew and loved her.

Surviving are her children Karen Goecke (the late Michael), Freeport, Howard (Diane) Gralewski, Munster, Indiana; grandsons Robert Goecke, of Baten Rouge, LA; Mark (Beth) Gralewski, Orland Park, IL, Kevin and Matt Gralewski of Munster, IN.

Services will be held at St. Joes Church of Freeport on Thursday, September 16 ^th with a visitation beginning at 9:30am and a Mass to follow at 10:30am.  Burial will take place on Friday the 17 ^th at Holy Cross Cemetery in Calumet City at 1pm.

A memorial has been established in her name. Condolences can be left for the family at www.walkermortuary.com