Irena

Lada

Irena passed away at 87 years of age on Saturday, January 29th in the comfort of her home surrounded by her loving and caring family after a brief decline of health.

Born on March 19, 1934, in Dlugosidolo, Poland, she was a beloved daughter of the late Stanislaw and Antonina (Kulesza) Sepkowski. Growing up in Poland during World War II was difficult, but Irena always took much pride in how her family banded together and managed to persevere. Irena spent much of her childhood in Udrzynek, living almost next door to the man who would eventually become her beloved husband, Kazimierz Lada. Irena and Kazimierz married and began raising their family in the village where they had met and fallen in love.

In 1969, Irena and Kazimierz made the decision to immigrate to the United States, and settled in Chelsea, MA where she remained for the past 53 years, proudly becoming a US citizen.  She was a devout Catholic and longtime parishioner of the former St. Stanislaus Church in Chelsea.  She frequently attended weekly Sunday coffee socials at the Polish American Veteran's Club and was beloved by many in the Chelsea-Polish Community.  Irena worked at Kayem Foods in Chelsea until her retirement.

A devoted homemaker, she enjoyed knitting sweaters for her grandchildren, showing off her green thumb by expertly tending her extensive garden, and trying to teach her family how to cook traditional Polish meals without the use of recipes.  Her paczki recipe would have been legendary if she had written it down.

She was the beloved mother of Martha Dzedulonus of Chelsea and her late husband James, Eva Lada of Chelsea and Teresa Sirignano and her husband Stephen of Wilmington. Cherished grandmother of Danielle Torres and her husband Luis of Lynn, Alysia Marchand and her husband Ryan of Milford, Nikki Sirignano of Wilmington, Christa Sirignano and her fiancée Andrew Goemaat of Woburn and Daniel Sirignano of Wilmington. Adoring great-grandmother of Angelise Rose and Luis James "LJ" Torres. Dear sister of Zofia Frankowska of Glogow, Poland. Irena was preceded in death by her husband Kazimierz, her son Stanislaw, her sister Halina Szydlik and her brothers Mieczyslaw, Stanislaw, and Jan Sepkowski. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, family, and friends whom she cherished throughout her life.

ARRANGEMENTS:  Visiting hours will be held from the Welsh Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea on Thursday February 3rd from 4 - 8 P.M. Relatives and friends are most kindly invited to attend. Per order of the Chelsea Board of Health, all visitors are required to wear face masks while in the Funeral Home.  Funeral from the Welsh Funeral Home on Friday February 4th at 9:00 A.M. Followed by a funeral mass at St. Rose Church, 600 Broadway Chelsea at 10:00 A.M. Services will conclude with interment at Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden.

DONATIONS:  Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to Care Dimensions Hospice, 75 Sylvan St., Danvers, MA 01923.

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