Irene (Basalla) Sekel

Irene Sekel, 88, of Buffalo, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday (September 14, 2021) surrounded by her loving family. 

She was born May 30, 1933 in Kings Mine, daughter of the late John Basalla and Elizabeth (Almasie) Basalla.

A 1951 graduate of Lore City High School, Irene retired from the Rolling Hills Local School District, where she had been a cook for many years. 

She was a lifelong member of the St. Michael’s Byzantine Church and a choir member.  She was actively involved with the Church’s Ladies Guild, baking and cooking for many events.  She was well-known for her nut rolls.

Irene was an avid sports fan and rarely missed watching The Ohio State Buckeyes, Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Cleveland Browns.  She enjoyed bowling, trips to the casino, playing cards, and going to bingo.  Most of all, Irene enjoyed spending time with her family – especially her grandchildren, cooking for family gatherings, and baking (especially her homemade bread and nut rolls).

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Sekel, who died September 27, 1987.  They were married May 28, 1960.  Also deceased are her siblings, Elizabeth, Michael, Andrew, Joseph, John, George, Samuel, and William Basalla, Margaret Gibson, Anne Yousko, Mary Goodrich, Helen Vahala, and Alice Stropki. 

She is survived by a son, Joseph (Cheryl) Sekel of Austin TX; four daughters, Beth (Kenton) Stillwell of Zanesville, Mary Katrina (Joseph) Cornely of Geneva; Cindy (Randy) Lucas of Buffalo, and Stephanie (Brent) Neuhart of Senecaville; nine grandchildren, Joey and Haley Sekel; Kyle (Aaron) Osentoski-Stillwell, Jessica (Srikanth) Vadlamudi, Allison Stillwell, Shane and Ethan Lucas, Cole and Layne Neuhart; two great-grandchildren, Arjun and Kiran Vadlamudi; three sisters-in-law, Mary Choma of Pensacola FL, Dorothy Basalla of Lakewood, and Mary Basalla of Pleasant City; several nieces and nephews; and many special friends.

The family would like to thank Irene’s special caregivers: Diane, Brenda, Mitzi, Paula, Kathy, Tracy, and Denise.  Special thanks to Hospice of Guernsey for their comforting care and support to our family.

Visitation will be held Sunday (September 19, 2021) from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Black-Epperson Funeral Home, Byesville, where at 7:30 p.m. a Parastas service will begin.  Additional visitation will be held Monday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at St. Michael’s Byzantine Catholic Church.

Mass of Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on Monday (September 20, 2021) at 11 a.m. at the St. Michael’s Byzantine Catholic Church, Pleasant City, with Father Ed Gretchko officiating.

Friends and family are welcome, but due to COVID-19 please take all necessary precautions to ensure your own safety and everyone else’s should you decide to attend the visitation hours and/or the funeral service.

Burial will be at St. Michael’s Cemetery, Pleasant City.

As an expression of sympathy the family asks that memorial contributions be made to one of the following organizations: 1) St. Michael’s Byzantine Catholic Church, PO Box 154, Pleasant City OH 43772; or 2) Hospice of Guernsey Inc., PO Box 1165, Cambridge OH 43725.

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