Person:Irene Pajak (1)

IRENE M. NEWQUIST

Irene Mary (Pajak) Newquist, 78, of DeKalb, Ill., passed away peacefully Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2004, at home. Born Sept. 2, 1926, she was the daughter of Alois and Felicia (Zion) Pajak. Irene married Howard Newquist on Nov. 27, 1948, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Streator.

Irene graduated from Marycrest College in 1948. She taught kindergarten in Streator until she and Howard moved to DeKalb and started their family.

Once her children were in school, she rejoined the field of education. She began teaching at Malta Grade School in 1966 and taught first and second grade in Malta until she retired in 1996. While teaching, Irene earned her master's degree from Northern Illinois University in reading and became a reading specialist. She was a member of the International Reading Association, Delta Kappa Gamma and Pi Lambda Theta. She is survived by her loving husband, Howard; five children, Mary (Bryan) Rice, Howard (Tamara) Newquist Jr., Jane (Craig) Buttrey, Stephen (Ann) Newquist and Thomas (Sharon Burke) Newquist; eight grandchildren, Michael and Mark Rice, Andrew and Lauren Buttrey and Christopher, Chadwick, Colby and Nicolette Newquist; and a brother, Alois Pajak Jr. of California.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Eugene.

The funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, at St. Mary Catholic Church in DeKalb, with Father Kenneth Anderson officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in DeKalb. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, at Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home in DeKalb.

A memorial fund has been established for reading materials for St. Mary School in DeKalb. Arrangements have been entrusted to Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home, located at 310 Oak St., DeKalb, IL 60115. For information, call (815) 758-3841.