San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Irene Mrzyglocki
June 5, 1923 - June 23, 2021
Irene Mrzyglocki, lovingly referred to as “Babcia” by many, peacefully passed away on June 23, 2021. She was surrounded by family her daughter and caregiver Diane, her son-in-law Tony, and granddaughters Amanda and Amy. Irene is also survived by her daughter-in-law Marcy and sisters Stella and Hedy.
Irene’s 98 years of life were marked by her charming spirit. She was kind, patient, practical, and particular, all packaged with a clever sense of humor and pride in her Polish heritage. You could always be sure that when the sun was shining, Babcia was smiling.
Irene was a loving wife to husband Marceli (Mark) and mother to Diane and Peter. She raised her children while helping Mark run various restaurants across the Bay Area. She enjoyed trips to Carmel and evenings spent singing and playing the piano. Irene’s son, Peter, and her husband, Mark, both passed away in 2011. In typical fashion, she weathered the loss with strength and grace.
Till her last days, Irene kept her mind inspiringly sharp. She loved talking to her sister Hedy, seeing and smelling vibrant flowers, and watching tennis matches. Irene read the SF Chronicle from front to back everyday. Even without a cell phone or internet connection, Irene maintained an impressive knowledge of local politics, world events, and pop culture.
Irene’s life centered around her daughter, Diane, who was her caregiver, confidant, and companion. Diane and Irene shared a simply irreplaceable bond. Amanda and Amy, Irene’s two granddaughters, were privileged to enjoy an extremely close relationship with their “Babcia.” While Irene was not one for fanfare, she loved her family fiercely. Her long life was tremendously well-lived and worthy of celebration, now and always. We will miss her dearly and are so thankful for the love, laughter, and light she brought into this world.
Services will be held on July 17th at 12:00pm at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Belmont, CA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart Association.