Irene Anna Mazanek, 93, of Vienna, New Jersey, died on September 11, 2017 at Warren Haven Nursing
Home in Oxford after a long illness. Irene was born on May 25, 1924 in Newark, New Jersey. She was the
daughter of the late Stanislaus Bukowski and Stefania "Estelle" Samel Bukowski.

Because of the difficult times in the United States during the Great Depression, when she was 4 years
old, her parents sent Irene and her brother Stanley, along with her cousins Zita and Freddy, to Poland to
live with relatives. Since they were US citizens, they were able to return to the US just months before
the occupation of Poland and the outbreak of WWII. Upon her return, Irene spoke only Polish.

Irene was an extremely talented seamstress. She had a business called "Slipcovers by Irene" for many
years and made custom slipcovers, drapes, and curtains. Her sewing was a lifelong hobby and she made
almost all her own clothes. She was also an outstanding cook. Her family and their friends often
enjoyed her traditional Polish dishes.

She enjoyed spending time and traveling with her friends and visited Poland in 1993. She liked bingo,
occasional casino trips, and dancing the Polka any chance she could.

Irene worked at Bates Manufacturing as a customer service representative until her retirement in 1990.

Prior to the onset of her illness, she was a member of Saint Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church in
Great Meadows.

Irene is survived by her son Edward "Jan" and Sandy Morris of Athens, Tennessee, her son Steven and
his wife Karen of Hackettstown, and her son Gregory of Vienna. She has two grandchildren, Meredith of
Nashville, TN and Elizabeth of Etowah, TN.

She is predeceased by her husband Ed, who passed in 1982.

Visitation will be held Thursday, September 14, 2017 from 4-8 pm at the Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High Street, Hackettstown, NJ 07840. At the request of the family the burial is private.

The family would like to acknowledge and thank Colonial Manor and Warren Haven for the excellent
and loving care they provided Irene during her long illness.

For those desiring donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association Greater NJ Chapter, 400 Morris Avenue, Suite 251, Denville, NJ 07834 in memory of Irene.

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