Irene Agnes Sykora

Irene entered into the Eternity of God on September 21, 2021. She was born March 10, 1926 near Prague, Oklahoma, the daughter of Paul Kuban & Agnes (Martinek) Kuban.As a young girl, Irene was known as "Blossom". Later in life, she was known as "Ta", a term of endearment given by a grandchild learning to speak; that grandchild would point at Irene and say "Ta". Both names stuck and both names reflected Irene"s unique personality.She was a beautiful soul with a contagious smile, indomitable spirit, and the ability to say the funniest things! Although she was always a beautiful woman, her greatest beauty came from within.Irene graduated from Paden High School in 1944 and thereafter from Draughon's Business College in Shawnee. Her first job was as Executive Secretary to Leslie A. Ford & J. Lloyd Ford, President & Chairman of the Board, respectively, of Shawnee Milling Company, where she worked for 4 years.Irene was married to Joseph Sykora at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Prague on May 20, 1948. Thereafter they moved to Stroud and made their home, where they raised their 3 children and operated Sykora's Furniture & Appliance Store (with Joe's brother Paul) for over 40 years. The store was an innovator in introducing low profit, high volume merchandising into central Oklahoma. At its peak, the store employed 31 full and part time employees in the small town of Stroud. They sold merchandise throughout the entire central Oklahoma region, and despite their small-town location, were consistently one of the highest volume retailers in the entire state of Oklahoma for General Electric and Whirlpool appliances, La-Z-Boy recliners & Spring Air mattresses.However, Irene's true vocation in life was being a faithful wife and devoted mother and she relished & epitomized both roles. In fact, she was a mother not only to her own children - but in the words of a friend: "Irene was everyone's mother". A mother to all with whom she came in contact!Irene was an active & long time member of St. Louis Catholic Church in Stroud, serving as church organist for many years. And, on Sundays, she never allowed the Mass service to be concluded until she had finished playing all 4 verses of "America the Beautiful".Together with being a full-time mother and homemaker, Irene also worked as Secretary at Sykora's Furniture & Appliance store. She was also a long time Red Cross & Hospital volunteer in Stroud, as well as a fund raiser for St. Jude's Medical Facility.Preceded in death by her husband, Joseph, her parents, Paul & Agnes Kuban, two sisters, Leontine Klabzuba & Stelenka Kuban, as well as by 2 grandchildren, Maria and Sarah Roberts. Survivors include daughter Mary Margaret Roberts & son-in-law Richard Roberts, daughter Susan Eckman & son-in-law Eric Eckman, and son James Sykora, all of Oklahoma City, 6 grandchildren, Margaret Grove, Gregory Roberts, Andrew Roberts, Alex Eckman, Charlie Eckman & Irene Eckman, one great grandchild, Walter Grove, and a host of other relatives & friends.Wake Prayer Vigil will be held on September 24 at 6:00 p.m. at the Smith & Kernke N. May Chapel followed by recitation of the Rosary. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, September 25 at 11:00 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church.Memorial contributions can be made to the Gospel of Life Dwellings, National Shrine to the Infant Jesus in Prague, Oklahoma, or St. Louis Catholic Church in Stroud. Interment in Prague Catholic cemetery, Prague, Oklahoma, on land donated by Irene's maternal grandfather, Vincent Martinek. Irene's family wishes to thank her caregivers at the Gospel of Life Dwelling in Moore,Oklahoma and her friends everywhere for their prayers and loving assistance.Now that Irene's life on earth is over, we all join in saying: "Well done, good & faithful servant Irene, well done."