Irene Matya

Irene Matya, age 78, of Aurora died Wednesday evening, December 19, 2001, at Memorial Long Term Care.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Aurora. Fr. Craig Doty will officiate. Interment will be in the Aurora Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 P.M. Friday at Higby Mortuary in Aurora, with the Rosary at 4:30 P.M. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at higbymortuary.com.

OBITUARY: IRENE MATYA

Irene Dean Matya, the daughter of Ralph William and Lora (Denton) Dean, was born in Grand Island, Nebraska on April 27, 1923 and died in Aurora, Nebraska on December 19, 2001, at the age of 78 years.

She grew up in Fullerton and graduated from Fullerton High School in 1939. Irene attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln from 1939-40.

Irene was united in marriage to Francis Joseph Matya on September 28, 1942, at Lincoln. They lived in St. Edward and Kansas City, Missouri before moving to Grand Island in 1945, where they both worked at the Army Ammunitions Depot. They moved to Columbus in 1949, then to Aurora later that same year. Irene was a dental assistant for Dr. Earl Shafer from 1963-1983. They moved to Central City in 1978 and when Francis retired from farming in 1984, they returned to Aurora. Francis passed away on September 12, 1988.

Irene was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Aurora and the Nebraska Dental Assistants Association. She was an avid fan of the New York Yankees. Irene enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles and bowling. Irene especially loved spending time with her children and grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, a son Patrick Dean Matya, sister, Dorothy Dean, brothers-in-law, Don Matya and Dean Hirsch. Irene was also preceded in death by her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Frank and Laura Matya.

Irene is survived by her four daughters, Stephanie Harms of Kearney, Laurie Pfeifer and her husband Jim of Aurora, Diane Thompson and her husband Michael of Sutton and Vicki Pfeifer and her husband Tom of Aurora; 11 grandchildren, Mark Harms and his wife Missy, Matt Harms and his wife Kristen all of Fremont, Tom Harms and his wife Brenda of Sioux City, Iowa, Nate Pfeifer and his wife Shelli of Grand Island, Adam Pfeifer and his wife Mandy of Phillips, Andrew Pfeifer and his wife Kelli of Lincoln, Steve Thompson and his wife Darla of Corpus Christi, Texas, Nick Thompson, Jeff Thompson and Jennifer Pfeifer all of Lincoln and Daniel Pfeifer of Aurora; 12 great-grandchildren; 3 brothers, Richard Dean and his wife Melba, and R. M. Dean both of Omaha and Phillip Dean and his wife Mary Ann of Callaway; brother-in-laws, Joseph Matya of Fremont and sister-in-laws, Lorraine Hirsch of Fremont, Helen Follensbee and her husband Earl of Maitland, Florida and Sharon Matya of Omaha.