Irene Ann (nee Szczurek) Nowak born August 7, 1936 went peacefully to her heavenly home on August 18, 2025 at the seasoned age of 89 years. She was the Beloved wife of the late Eugene "Harpo" Nowak, Loving mother to Donna (Jim) Brodecki, Jane (Mike) Litoborski, Greg, Andy (Dorota) and Laura (Mike) Weidner, Fun-loving Grammie to Stefanie (Trevor), Robert (Aiko), Matthew (Ashley), Lexi, Joanna, Gabe, Ben, Grace, Melissa, Sam and Kristin, Loving Great-Grandmother to Ella, Owen, James, Eugene, Madison and Logan, Devoted sister to the late Genevieve "Jenny" Hamilton, Loving Aunt to Michael, Donna, Julie and the late Cheryl Hamilton, Caring Aunt to many from the Hamilton and Nowak families, and Loving cousin to many and her family in Poland and Slovakia.

Irene was born in the St. John of God parish in Chicago then moved to the Midway Airport area where she raised her family and there she was actively involved with her church and several charities including St Camillus Mother's Club and St. Rita's food pantry. Living the last 23 years in Carillon, she was actively involved at St. Andrew's Parish/Food Pantry and with the ladies in the community started Hearts & Hands; donating their own money and time to help local families in need. She held her friends very close to her heart: Delphine of 73 years, countless Long Avenue and St. Camillus friends and her Meaden Screw Products family where she worked for 35 years. She loved sharing her Polish traditions and spending time with her family.

Per mom's wishes in lieu of flowers, memorials in Irene's honor to Mercy Home, St Jude's Children's Hospital, St. Andrew Parish or Tunnel to Towers (links provided) would be greatly appreciated. Flowers fade but helping someone in need never does. In remembrance, please enjoy a hotdog, thin crust pizza with a beer, a mojito or vodka tonic and toast to a life well lived. Please dress for a celebration of life as you would for Easter morning or in her favorite colors pink and yellow. If you have a favorite memory of mom, dad, or mom and dad together, please jot it down and leave in the box at the wake. She will be missed by several area penny slots and Iowa casinos.

The visitation will take place on Friday, August 22, 2025, from 3-8pm at the McCauley-Sullivan Funeral Home, 530 West Boughton Road, Bolingbrook, Illinois 60440. Her funeral mass takes place the following day, Saturday, August 23, 2025, at 10:00am, located at St. Andrew the Apostle Church, 505 Kingston Drive, Romeoville, Illinois 60446. Family and friends are welcome at 8:45am that morning at the funeral home. Interment Resurrection Cemetery-Justice. Memorial Luncheon to follow, beginning 12:45pm, at Royalty West Banquets, 8675 Archer Ave, Willow Springs, Illinois 60480.

Donation Links:
Mercy Home: https://donate.mercyhome.org/page/114309/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=25M73WB009&_gl=1*tlx9pe*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3NTU2NDE4MDkuQ2owS0NRand3WkRGQmhDcEFSSXNBQjk1cU8wWjZGeERzQm4zSWVETjhiM2tLcHdSZGswTTRQU000WVFQalJQN2RQQnNXdVlmT3lFUkw5TWFBdUpRRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*OTMxMDQ5ODk4LjE3NTU2NDE4MDg .

St. Jude's Children Hospital: https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sl=donate-now&sc_dcm=58700008005633801&sc_cid=kwp&gclsrc=aw.ds&ds_rl=1291300&ds_rl=1285465&ds_rl=1290690&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17681678597&gbraid=0AAAAADuyZN4TABtGubEw_Ctz_3tCQUgBG&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwZDFBhCpARIsAB95qO0zRUd8IRfI-2Jb0bMjL88RE3Nd17SvArk8ySHpdhyIjUMhjJiDegkaApEFEALw_wcB

St. Andrew Catholic Parish: https://andrewcc.org/giving (Please see the bottom of the page)

Tunnel to Towers: https://t2t.org/?utm_source=sav&utm_medium=google&utm_campaign=search&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=16451052958&gbraid=0AAAAABOVbubuaKC4-hT5w444hv6ZXqXWR&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwZDFBhCpARIsAB95qO0gvAevJMRh4a5mQ5HuGrVOVAMnTz-OUeMT4L3jFF1-T7kkqU3ufqMaAtRVEALw_wcB

Funeral arrangements entrusted to McCauley-Sullivan Funeral Home & Crematorium.