Irene A. Hornyak

Irene Anne (née Kadlick) Hornyak, age 103, born September 23, 1917 in Toledo, OH, died in the early hours of Sunday, June 20, 2021 at Orchard Villa Nursing Home in Oregon, OH where she lived for six years. Irene grew up with her Bohemian immigrant parents in now defunct Ironville, OH just a few blocks from “Hunkytown” on Toledo’s eastside waterfront. She attended Ironville Elementary School and proudly graduated from Waite High School, Class of 1935. Irene and Frank eloped on July 23, 1935 and were married by a Justice of the Peace in Wood County, OH. Upon returning to Toledo, Irene took the bus home as usual but fibbed about where she’d been and waited two months until her 18th birthday in September to tell her mother she and Frank were married! The couple moved into a small home on Magyar St. where they raised their two children, Frances and Frank, in St. Stephen’s Parish. In the 1950’s, the Hornyak’s built a home in Shoreland where they lived for the next 60 years. Irene and Frank were extremely proud that both of their children honorably served in the U.S. Armed Forces: Frances was in the Navy for two years and eventually retired as a federal court reporter, Frank made a career of the Air Force. Irene’s father died when she was young. As a child, she made housecoats which she sold for $.50 each to help her mother. She often commented on how poor they were growing up without a father and said her mother took in a boarder to help with the rent. Irene touted the importance of growing vegetables for food, and she and Frank always had a garden! Primarily a homemaker, Irene worked part-time over the years as a waitress at the exclusive Toledo Club and the Commodore Perry Hotel, at Acklin Stamping, and later as a cashier in Tiedtke’s bakery. As a grandma, she always bestowed some life lesson on us – the importance of fresh air, hard work, saving money, and education – all over fresh baked Hungarian pastries. One of Irene’s greatest joys was traveling to Czechoslovakia in the 1980s where she met cousins and extended family, and where she felt so welcomed she visited again several years later. At Irene’s 103rd birthday party, she told us purple was her favorite color; hobbies were reading and Bingo (which she won quite often!); the Big Band sound was her favorite music; and steak, the dark meat on a chicken, and all Hungarian dishes were her favorite foods! When asked what she always had “on hand” in her refrigerator, she replied, “Sour cream, butter, and mayonnaise!” She described herself as hardworking, humorous, and friendly, and when asked, said that her most cherished accomplishment was helping raise six of the grandchildren. Irene was preceded in death by her husband of 75 years, Frank S. Hornyak; daughter, Frances I. LeGree; son Frank J. Hornyak; grandson, Joey T. LeGree; grandson, Tod M. Vahle; great-grandson, Garrett T. McKenzie; sister, Lillian E. DeSalle; brother, Frank J. Kadlick; niece, Mary Lou Brymer; parents Elizabeth (née Mika) and Frank Kadlcik; maternal grandparents Anna Chabic and Bartolomej Mika and paternal grandparents Frances Cada and Frank Kadlcik. Irene is survived by nine grandchildren: Cynthia (Michael) Vahle, Natalie LeGree, Donna (Tom) Rohlff, Denise Hernandez, Tony (Elena) LeGree, Theresa (Joseph) Mahoney, Frank Hornyak, Jeri Ann (Michael) Moore, and Jason (Amy) LeGree; 16 great-grandchildren: Melanie (Terrance) Langhorne, Joshua (Kelsey) Rice, Sarah Sine, Jessica Hernandez, Michael (Lucy) LeGree, Lauren (Brent) Bean, Nicole (Jacob) Mild, Kristina LeGree, Nicholas McKenzie, Taylor Threadgill, Celena Hornyak, Breanna LeGree, Shelby Rohlff, Jillian Hornyak, Emily Rohlff, and Derek Hernandez; 11 great-great-grandchildren: Kolin (Alex) Toliver, Zachary Vahle, Jared Vahle, Jocelyn Wood, Riley Mae Vahle, Quincy Langhorne, Ryan Hernandez, Kayleigh Whitehead, Kimberley Bean, Grayson McKenzie, and Brooklyn Bean; two nephews, Douglas (Pamela) Kadlick and Frank (Diane) Kadlick; two nieces, Leona Wagner and Ann (Michael) Diekman; and many great-nieces and nephews, and cousins. No funeral services are scheduled, at Irene’s behest. Memorials in Irene’s name may be sent to the Hospice of Northwest Ohio, whose caring staff treated her with dignity and ensured she was at peace her final weeks. The mailing address is 30000 East River Rd., Perrysburg, OH 43551 and their donation form is found online at Hospice of Northwest Ohio (hospicenwo.org).