A Funeral Mass for Irene G. Sojka, age 96 of O'Neill, NE will be 10:30 AM Saturday, December 30, 2023 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in O'Neill. Rev. Bernard Starman will officiate. The Funeral Mass will be live streamed at: https://holtboydcatholic.org/irenesojka Burial will take place at 1:30 PM at St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery in Ewing, NE. Visitation will be Friday, December 29, 2023 from 6 to 7 PM at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill with a Parish Rosary at 7 PM. Irene passed away on Wednesday, December 20, 2023 at the Journey House at Tabitha in Lincoln, NE. Memorials may be given to St. Patrick's Catholic Church or for Masses in Memory of Irene. Arrangements are under the direction of Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill.

Irene Genevieve Fonfara was born on December 26, 1926 in Omaha, NE to Stanley and Genevieve Fonfara. She attended St. Stanislaus School and Cathedral High School in Omaha. Irene studied nursing at Creighton University, but her life direction changed when she met Peter Sojka from Page, NE. They were married on June 7, 1947 at St. Stanislaus Church in Omaha. The couple moved to a farm northeast of Page where they raised their three children and spent the majority of their married life, before moving to O'Neill. Peter and Irene were married 63 years.

Irene was a dedicated farm wife and mother. She was a member of the Christian Mothers Society and St. Peter's Church in Ewing, NE, where she enjoyed singing and was a faithful choir member for 18 years. Irene loved embroidering and made countless hand-stitched tea towels which made their way into many homes. She enjoyed gardening, baking and decorating cakes for family on special occasions and praying daily for her family and friends. She cared for many animals on their farm, family pets, and she always made sure her bird feeder was full. Irene never missed a grandchild's or great grandchild's birthday. She always sent her famous birthday cards covered front to back in stickers (including the envelope). Irene was a woman of strong faith and strong will and she always made sure people knew how much she cared for them.

Irene is survived by her three children, Virginia (Mark) Schweers of Des Moines, IA, Thomas (Carol) Sojka of O'Neill, NE and Patricia (Robert) Pruden of Lincoln, NE; sisters, Virginia Hardy and Patricia Fonfara, both of Omaha, NE; ten grandchildren; and fourteen great grandchildren.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband, Peter Sojka; her parents; and her siblings, Richard Fonfara, Robert Fonfara, and Dorothy Chapman.