Irene Teresa Pieciorak Clark's Obituary
Passed away on December 8, 2015, at the age of 95. Irene was born December 4, 1920, in New York City, the oldest of two children of Bartholomew Pieciorak and Tatiana Szuplat Pieciorak. While living in New York, Irene resided primarily in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens and attained her undergraduate degree from Brooklyn College. During World War II, Irene served as an air raid warden and was responsible for making sure that the people in her neighborhood had their shades down and lights out at night. After the war, Irene met Joseph Alfred Clark, a Navy captain, whom she would later marry on December 7,1946, in New York City. Before settling down in Dallas in 1953, Irene and Joseph also lived in Boise, Idaho; Salt Lake City; and New York City. They had their four children, one in each state. In 1959, Irene received her Master’s in Education (Elementary School Administration and Supervision) and began substituting for the Dallas Independent School District. A year later she was hired full time to teach for the district and, subsequently, spent many years as both a teacher and a counselor. Irene had many talents and interests in her life. She was fluent in six (6) languages and loved reading and traveling. Irene loved to fix and repair things around the house. She often had more than one project going on at a time. She loved to cook for her family, and everyone looked forward to indulging in her meals. Holidays were always a special time. Her kids always looked forward to her apple pies, cakes, and other delicious desserts. Her children will be forever grateful for the summer trips to New York City and Narrowsburg, New York where they spent their early childhood. It was there that they enjoyed priceless memories with many relatives. To this day they fondly speak about those wonderful times. Irene is preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Alfred Clark (1994); daughter, Barbara Ann Clark (2014); daughter-in-law, Olivia Ayers Clark (2011); and grandson, Thomas Bartholomew Clark, II (2013). She is survived by her three (3) sons and their wives: Thomas Bartholomew Clark; Joseph Alfred Clark and wife Freddie Ann; John Adam Clark and wife Virginia Gray; nine (9) grandchildren, John Clark, Melissa (Clark) Peveto, Brent Clark, Andrew Clark, Marcia (Clark) Kenny, Mary Catherine (Clark) Kieschnick, Jackie (Clark) Milligan, Brookanne Clark, and Jeffrey Clark; and sixteen (16) great grandchildren. A memorial service celebrating Irene’s life will be held at 2:30 pm on Saturday, December 19, 2015, at the Memorial Chapel at Restland Funeral Home and Cemetery. Graveside immediately following the memorial service. Restland is located at 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75243. Telephone: 972/238-7111. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75243. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Cancer Society.
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