Irene B. (Kowalczyk) Dylag, 78, of West Hartford, died on May 15, 2013 after a short illness. Irene was born in Lipniki, Poland to the late Teofil and Marijanna (Popielarczyk) Kowalczyk. She came to the United States in 1946 as a natural citizen; her father having been born in Dorchester, MA. She graduated from Mary Immaculate Academy in New Britain and had a short and successful career as a secretary for the National Fire Insurance Company. In 1955 she married Francis Dylag, and had four children which were raised in West Hartford. She leaves her husband of 58 years, Francis Dylag and her four children: Michael T. Dylag and his wife Patricia Owens of Newtown, CT; Barbara Dylag Hunt and her husband Kevin Hunt of Alamo, CA; Stephen Dylag and his wife Dorothy Bundy Dylag of Wrentham, MA; and Andrew M. Dylag and his wife Daphna Fuhr Dylag of Canton, CT. Known to her grandchildren as "Babci," she leaves eleven grandchildren: Andrew J. Dylag, Heather Werner, Michael T. Dylag Jr., Connor Hunt, Kerianne Hunt, Griffin Hunt, Samuel Dylag, Caroline Dylag, Aylannah Dylag, Abigayle Dylag and Walter Dylag and many nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind her sister Bernice Kowalczyk Lesinski and her husband Kazimierz Lesinski and sisters-in-law; Stella Kowalczyk and Helen Dylag Wysocki, all of West Hartford. She was predeceased by her sister Stephanie Parzych and brother Stanley Kowalczyk, both formerly of West Hartford. When her children entered school, she was employed at the West Hartford Public Library in the Children's Department, and later worked for the Research Department of the State of CT Labor Department, where she held a number of union positions, including president of the AFSME Local union. She was very active in the Polish-American community in the greater Hartford area as President of the SS. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church Ladies Guild, as a member of the church Parish Council, as well as serving as a Eucharistic Minister. Additionally, she volunteered for many years at SS. Cyril & Methodius Catholic School. She was treasurer of the Polish National Home for almost 20 years, a member of its Board of Directors and a strong supporter and member of the Polish American Cultural Club-Hartford.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to two scholarship funds for students of Polish Heritage. The Polish National Home Scholarship Fund, 60 Charter Oak Ave., Hartford, CT 06106 or to Father Zyskowski Scholarship Fund-Ladies Guild, SS. Cyril & Methodius Church, 55 Charter Oak Ave., Hartford, CT 06106. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 9 a.m. from Newington Memorial Funeral Home, 20 Bonair Ave., Newington, CT with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at SS. Cyril & Methodius Church, 55 Charter Oak Ave., Hartford. Burial will follow in Mount St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 from 4 - 7p.m at the Newington Memorial Funeral Home