Irena Kudirka

Our dear mother, Irene Kudirka, passed away on March 13, 2013, at the age of 85. Irene was born in Kybartas, Lithuania on June 21, 1927. Together with her parents, Andreas and Berta Giedrys and older brother, Eugene, Irene moved to Kaunas, Lithuania where she spent her youth and attended school. During the Second World War, her father was a wartime prisoner at the Kaunas 9th Fort Prison. After her father was released, the family relocated to Augsburg, Germany and resided in the displaced persons' camp,"Haunstetten". There she graduated from Saint Theresa's Catholic Girls High School. Irene emigrated to America in 1949, and lived in Brooklyn, New York with her parents. In 1951 she married George Kudirka, MD, while he completed his residency in family practice. Later, they resided in various states while her husband completed his military service. In 1951 they settled in Mason City, Illinois, where they resided for over fifty years raising a family of five children; four sons, George, Tom, Tony, John, and one daughter Daina. All children are graduates of higher education; three sons earning medical degrees, MD, and one son with two Masters Degrees in public administration and international business. Their daughter attained a BS in Nursing. Irene Kudirka resided the last five years in Sierra Madre, California. Her husband, Dr. George Kudirka, passed away October 14, 2011, and is buried in Mason City, IL. They were married for 60 years. Irene is survived by (4) sons, George Kudirka (Beth) grandsons Chris & Taylor of Tuscaloosa, AL., Tom Kudirka of Santa Monica, CA., granddaughter Magalie, Anthony Kudirka (Lori) grandson Adam, granddaughter Lauren of Milford, MI., John Kudirka grandsons Connor & Lukas, granddaughter Lexi of Thousand Oaks, CA., and a daughter, Daina Kudirka Shuster (Mark) granddaughters Sterling & Kiki, grandson Alec of Arcadia, CA. The funeral for Irene Kudirka will take place at St. Casimir's Lithuanian Catholic Church on Thursday, March 21st at 11AM. She will be buried in Mason City, Illinois on Tuesday, March 26th, 2013. The Kudirka Family.