Irene T. Church

Irene T. Church (Wolkowicz), 98, loving wife of the late Wayne W. Church, passed away peacefully at home on July 15, 2025. Born in Meriden, CT on February 10, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Bernice (Tomasik) Wolkowicz and was a lifelong resident of Meriden. Irene attended St. Stanislaus Parochial School, Meriden High School and Stone Business College. She was a parishioner of St. Stanislaus Church. She worked for Napier Jewelry Company, the Bureau of Business Practices, and in 2005 retired from sales for Simon & Schuster. Irene kept busy socializing at Bingo, watching UCONN sports, working in the yard and cooking. She was a fantastic cook of Polish cuisine which she loved to share with others. She enjoyed Polish culture and music, and family get togethers. Over the past 25 years, Irene has cooked over 15, 000 of her "famous" Polish Golabki's for the Meriden Elks annual Polish Night. Irene is survived by her daughter Penny Reno of Clinton; her two sons Tracy Church of Meriden and Wayne Church of Clinton; a daughter-in-law Nancy Church; six grandchildren, Samantha, Timothy, Kenneth, Shelby, Alexandra and Sydney and a great-granddaughter Reagan. She was pre-deceased by her son Richard W. Church, her four sisters, Eleanor, Mary, Chesterine and Bernice as well as her brother Edwin and her son-in-law, Bryan Reno. Family and friends are invited to attend calling hours on Tuesday July 22, 2025, from 4 to 7pm at the John J. Ferry & Sons Funeral Home, 88 East Main St, Meriden, CT 06450. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday July 23, 2025, at 11:30am at St. Stanislaus Church, 82 Akron St., Meriden, CT 06450. All are asked to meet directly at the church. Irene will be reunited with her husband Wayne in St. Stanislaus Cemetery following the Mass. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory can be made to St. Jude's Children Hospital at stjude.org/donate or 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105. For online condolences please visit jferryfh.com. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Irene, please visit our Tree Store.