Irene Frances (Reding) Parizek passed away Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at her home near Yukon, Oklahoma, surrounded by loving family.
Irene was born July 22, 1922, in Calumet, Oklahoma, just before her twin sister Corene. She attended Sacred Heart High School in El Reno and was valedictorian of her class. Her classmate, Lillian Maca, introduced her cousin, Martin Parizek, to Irene at a Knights of Columbus dance. After Martin returned from the Army Air Force, they married on Jan. 24, 1950. They farmed northwest of Yukon and raised 10 children.
Irene was an excellent cook and many people enjoyed her kolache and delicious dinners over the years. She had great sewing skills and liked doing embroidery and handwork. She made many beautiful quilts.
She was an active member of St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church, the Altar Society and was in charge of funeral dinners at St. John’s for many years. She and her husband Martin were awarded the Papal Cross for distinguished service to the Catholic Church.
She was an adopted Czech and made thousands of kolache for the annual Czech festival over the years. She passed on her kolache-making skills to following generations. She was a 4-H leader in Yukon and Canadian County.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Martin Parizek, and parents, Charles and Katherine Reding. She is survived by her children: Mary (Ron) O’Hanlon, Dodge City, Kansas; Mark (Sue) Parizek, Yukon; John (Sarah) Parizek, Yukon; Elizabeth (Steve) Baca, Okarche; Susan (Nelson) Canham, Yukon; Jim (Sheryl) Parizek, Yukon; Margaret (Mark) Stangl, Kingfisher; David (Tina) Parizek, Yukon; Jean (Curt) Ruthe, Rockford, Illinois; and Francis Parizek, Yukon; 32 grandchildren; and 29 great grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church, 600 Garth Brooks Blvd., P.O. Box 850249, Yukon, Oklahoma, 73085.
Services will be held at St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church, Yukon, Oklahoma, with Wake services at 7 p.m., Friday, June 9, 2023, and Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 10, 2023. Interment will follow at the Yukon Cemetery.
Online condolences may be signed at www.yandafuneral.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Yanda & Son Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Yukon, Oklahoma.
