WESTFIELD: Irene Mary (Wisniewski) Cook of Westfield, died peacefully on May 29, 2019 at the age of 94. She was born in Westfield on Jan 31, 1925 to John and Amelia (Kalinowski) Wisniewski and was the youngest of their 6 children. She was educated in Westfield Public Schools. At the young age of 18, Irene worked at the Springfield Armory in Springfield, MA as a machine operator, making parts for the M1 Garand rifle. She worked there for the duration of WW II, (1942-1945). Irene also worked, for 18 years, at Torrington Needle in Westfield, MA. After she left Torrington she worked at several small factories including Strathmore Paper Co, until her retirement. She was predeceased by the love of her life, Marion E. Cook in 1997, to whom she was married for 51 years. It will give you great comfort to know that she will be reunited and at peace with her beloved husband, who she has missed greatly for the past 21 years. Irene’s greatest pleasures in life were her country home, where she spent long hours aside her husband gardening and raising fruits and vegetables to put up for preserve. She also loved her fur babies (pets), wild animals, birds, music, flowers and oil painting. She was a communicant of St. Joseph’s National Catholic church and will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Irene leaves behind her brother, Benedict Wisniewski of Westfield; her great- niece and caregiver Deborah Sico of Westfield; several nieces, Maureen Jermyn and husband Bob, Carol Merritt and husband Sandy, Patricia Mayeski and husband Conrad and Christine Malachowski, all of Westfield. She also leaves 4 generations of great nieces and nephews. Irene and her family wish to thank her wonderful neighbors, who were a great help to her after her husband passed. To them, she is eternally grateful. She was predeceased by her parents, John and Amelia Wisniewski as well as her sisters; Stella Donohue of Westfield, Helen Janus and Jessie Mengacci of Naugatuck, Ct and an infant sister, Jenny, 1 year old.
Calling hour will be from 10-11am at Firtion-Adams Funeral Services, 76 Broad St, Westfield, MA on Monday June 3rd . A graveside service will follow at St Joseph’s Cemetery, Southampton Rd, Westfield MA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to St Joseph’s National Catholic Church, 73 Main St, Westfield, MA 01085 or to the Westfield Regional Animal Shelter, 178 Apremont Way, Westfield, MA 01085. Firtionadams.com
