Irene B. Kozody

Irene B. Kozody, of Medina, NY passed away unexpectedly, yet peacefully, at home on Wednesday, December 17, 2025.

Born January 23, 1934 in Buffalo, she was a daughter of the late Stanley and Julia (Waclawski) Slusar. The family lived in Lancaster and moved to Charleston, SC in 1941, where her father was stationed at a naval yard during WWII. In 1947 the family returned to the area, settling in Alabama Center. Irene graduated from Oakfield Alabama High School, Class of 1952. She was proud to be the first female recipient of the Babe Ruth Award at Oakfield-Alabama. Irene was employed by Linde Air in Tonawanda in 1952 until her marriage to Henry A. Kozody on September 3, 1955. They lived in the village of Medina until moving into the home that they built together on Slade Road in 1960. It was there that they would raise their family of five children.

Primarily a homemaker, in 1982 she worked as a library associate for the Warren P. Towne Primary School until 2010. Irene was a longtime parishioner of the former Sacred Heart of Jesus R.C. Church and then Holy Trinity Parish, St. Mary’s Church. Irene was a member of the Rosary Society and also assisted her husband with the care of Sacred Heart Cemetery. Irene was an avid reader, was a huge Buffalo Bills fan and enjoyed playing a variety of card games, excelling especially at pinochle. As her friends at the Lee-Whedon Library will attest, she loved jigsaw puzzles. Rare was the day that she was not putting together a 1,000-piece challenge. She always looked forward to her Wednesday morning breakfasts with her gal-pals and weekly chats with her friends at A Kut Above. Some other favorite activities of Irene’s were mowing the lawn, spending time with her faithful four-legged companion, Millie, and introducing the joys of Lawrence Welk to her granddaughters. Irene was always willing to lend a helping hand. She deeply loved her family and would share stories about them whenever an opportunity arose, which was often.

In addition to her parents, Irene was predeceased by her beloved husband of 61 years, Henry Kozody; her daughter, Jennifer Holbrook; son-in-law, Randy Holbrook; daughter in-law, Mary Steinbacher; brother, Gregory Slusar; and brother in-law, Roy Dexheimer.

She is survived by her children, Jeffrey Kozody, David (Kristen) Kozody, Brian (Carrie) Kozody and Paul (Carolyn) Kozody; grandchildren, Olivia (Matthew) Cupo, Macrae, Mason, Mallory and Sophie Kozody; great-grandson, Henry Cupo; sister, Frances Dexheimer; brothers, Lawrence (Janet) Slusar and Paul (Dianne) Slusar; and many nieces and nephews.

The Rosary will be said prior to the start of her calling hours on Sunday, Dec. 21, Rosary at 1:30PM, calling hours 2-6PM at Cooper Funeral Home, 215 W. Center St., Medina. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, Dec. 22 at 11AM at Holy Trinity Parish, St. Mary’s Church, 211 Eagle St., Medina, NY 14103. Interment will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery. 

Memorial donations may be made to Holy Trinity Parish at the address above.