Irene L. Kizior

Irene Leona Kizior, 88, of Farwell died Saturday, March 28, 2009, at the Heritage Living Center in St. Paul. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Farwell. The Rev. Ray Kosmicki will officiate. Burial will be in the St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery near Farwell. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. vigil service at Peters Funeral Home in St. Paul. Mrs. Kizior was born on Nov. 5, 1920, south of Farwell, to John and Mary (Siegel) Sidel. She was preceded in death by her husband, Steven L. Kizior and a daughter, Arlene Bannister. She is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Phyllis and Johnny Piontkowski, Jr. of Loup City; son-in-law, H. Gayle Bannister of Hastings; and one sister, Erma Kalinowski of Cairo. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren, Steven Bannister, Ann Bohannon (Rod), Debbie Harshbarger (Shawn), Russell Bannister, Robbie Piontkowski, Mary Slocum (Larry), Cyndie Schoof (Doug), Lisa Bannister, Julie Roy (Dave), Jeffrey Bannister (Judy), Loretta DiFillipio (Rocco), Joseph Bannister (Kelli) and Jason Bannister; 16 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; several nieces and nephews; several cousins and a host of friends. Irene attended District #38 Howard County rural school south of Farwell where she graduated from the 8th grade at the age of 12 years old. She then worked for several families in Grand Island, caring for their children, cooking and cleaning. She also worked at a couple cafes in St. Paul as a waitress. She was united in marriage to Steven L. Kizior on Aug. 8, 1939, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Farwell. To this union two daughters were born, Arlene Ann and Phyllis Jean. The couple farmed in the Farwell area and she worked at the Cornhusker Army Ammunitions Plant in Grand Island during the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. She also worked in two different taverns in Farwell. The couple retired from farming and moved into Farwell in 1972. They celebrated three important anniversaries, their 25th, 40th and 50th with family and friends. Steve died on Jan. 4, 2001. Irene continued to live in her home in Farwell until moving to Heritage Living Center in St. Paul on Feb. 20, 2007. She was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church and its Council of Catholic Women and Rosary Sodality. She was also a member of the WFLA Lodge #152, 45 year member of the Christmas Club and enjoyed performing with the St. Paul Senior Center “Bag Ladies” at various functions. Irene was an avid card player, loved gardening and raising flowers which she arranged and took to church for Sunday morning mass. She enjoyed watching Braves baseball, making rosettes, dancing with her favorite partner, Steve and fishing with him from time to time. She cherished spending time with her family and her favorite holidays were Easter and Christmas. When Irene told a joke, she had everyone rolling in the aisles! If anyone entered Irene’s home as a new visitor; they always left as a friend. Her family and friends never left her house without a bite to eat. Irene’s faith in God, kindness, sweetness and courage were an inspiration to all who knew her. She will forever be loved and sadly missed by her family and friends. In addition to her husband and daughter, she was preceded in death by one great-grandson, Trace Bohannon; four sisters, Annie Sidel, Margaret Pogorelski, Genevieve Hurt and Velma Nesiba; three brothers, Johnny Sidel, Steven Sidel and Ernie Sidel; and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. Memorials are suggested to the family’s choice.