Irene M. (nee Sichko) Marko

Irene Margaret Marko (nee Sichko), age 87, passed away on Sunday, October 12, 2014. She was born in Thompson, Pennsylvania on September 24, 1927 the third of eight children born to Michael and Anna Sichko. Loving wife of George, and mother of Deborah and George Michael, she was a teacher to over a thousand students in the Painesville City School district over her career spanning 34 years..

Irene graduated from Brownsville (Pa) High School in 1945, where she was class valedictorian. She moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1950, joining her older brother and sister where she worked at White Motors as an administrative assistant. She met the love of her life, George Marko, back in Pennsylvania at St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, when they were both home visiting family. They were married on May 30, 1953 at the church in Brownsville, Pa. and began a family soon after in Cleveland.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, George, daughter Deborah Devore (Richard) of Hudson, Ohio, and son George Michael of Verona, Wisconsin, grand-daughter Rebecca Edwards (Michael), and sisters Pauline Jacubenta, Margaret Girman (Rudolph), Ann Hronek (Robert) and brother Steve Sichko(Ann), many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Irene came from humble roots, a coal miner's daughter, and after having her children she started going to college at nights at Fenn College in Cleveland. She finished her degree in education at Kent State University in 1964 where she graduated summa cum laude, and was a teacher in the Painesville City School District from 1962 until her retirement in 1996. She taught at Huntington and State Street Elementary schools throughout her career. She earned her Master's Degree in 1972 from Kent State, and continued lifelong learning through additional college coursework and travel. She had many memorable trips with her husband George and Kent State to the Soviet Union in 1970 and South America in 1978, studying the education systems, and then extensive trips to Europe and Canada after retirement.

Irene was a multi-talented woman who lived life to the fullest. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, visual arts, cooking, baking, and decorating pysanki (Easter eggs) in the Ukranian tradition. She was an avid reader and scholar and always enjoyed challenging endeavors.She was a member of St. Michaels and St. Andrews Byzantine Catholic churches when she and her husband lived in Painesville, and later St. Joseph Byzantine Catholic church when they moved to the west side of Akron in later years. She was active in the Kent State Alumni association, and served as president of the Lake County chapter for two years. She volunteered her time at the local library as well.

Friends received at the HOPKO FUNERAL HOME 6020 BROADVIEW RD (S OF SNOW RD) PARMA. VISITING HOURS: MONDAY 6-8P.M. PARASTAS 6:30P.M.A private family burial service will take place with interment at Holy Spirit Cemetery, Parma,OH. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Irene's name be made to Akron General Hospital Visiting Nurse Service Hospice Care Center 3358 Ridgewood Rd. Fairlawn, OH 44333