She was born June 2, 1940, in Taylor, to Joe and Mildred Zycha. Irene grew up in Beyersville on a farm where she chopped and picked cotton.

Although Irene was a social butterfly in school, learning English was hard because her family only spoke Czech at home. Despite not graduating with her class, Irene’s classmates adored her and included her in the class reunions.

A few of them still gather monthly to have lunch and chat.

On Feb. 19, 1956, Irene married Charles W. Bucanek. He stepped in as her date and dancing partner for a friend’s wedding and from that moment on, he was the love of her life.

Charlie left for the Navy and was stationed in San Diego, California.

Irene, at the age of 15, took a bus from the small town of Taylor to the strange, big, new city of San Diego. All alone, Irene was befriended by a Black woman, whom Irene called “her guardian angel.” She took her under her wing until Irene was reunited with Charlie.

When Charlie returned, he and Irene found their roots in Taylor, where Charlie got a job with Taylor Manufacturing Company. Irene was a fabulous homemaker, dedicated wife and young mother of four. Irene was hardworking and determined. She was a nurse’s aide at Sweetbriar Nursing home, sales woman for Avon, and activity director for S.P.J.S.T. nursing home.

She was a food service worker for two years at the Cake Shop of Taylor before becoming the proud owner and pastry chef of the Kolache Shoppe Bakery of Taylor, which she ran for 48 years.

Here, she became a community leader donating to many organizations such as Taylor Independent School District, Shepherd’s Heart and more. She participated in all of the local parades and many town events, too, like the Halloween Spooktacular.

During the parades, Michael Craig made sure to give Irene and her Kolache Shoppe the grand introduction she deserved. She and her family decorated many floats and convertibles with glitz and glamour to shine and stand out from the rest.

Of course, Irene would make sure all of the bakery work was done first, but her last-minute entries still won dozens of first-and-second-place ribbons in the holiday parades. Irene also brought home many distinguished awards and prizes from the Kolache Festival in Caldwell and the Westfest Czech and Polka Festival of West.

Her poppy seed kolaches were often the rave at such contests.

Besides living and loving her bakery, Irene loved Elvis. She loved the King so much that she decorated her bakery and her home with a collection of Elvis memorabilia. Irene even enjoyed impersonating Elvis and going to Chuy’s, an Austin Tex Mex restaurant that also honors the king, to celebrate his birthday.

On Sundays when Irene wasn’t working at the bakery, she attended mass at St.

Mary’s Catholic Church in Taylor. Irene liked to dress up from head to toe. Her jewelry, clothes, makeup and purse always matched. As a child, she only had two dresses, one work dress for the farm and another nice dress for school and church. As as successful independent business woman, Irene made sure to remedy that situation.

Many of the Bucanek family members have Irene’s love for shopping, strong will and independent mindset.

Another one of Irene’s favorite family pastimes was going to the beach. Her and Charlie’s favorite spot was in Rockport. Their whole family would meet at the Surfside Hotel, fill up the hotel, splash in the pool, eat a bucket of fried chicken, rolls and hot peppers on the beach, drink cold pivos in the ocean and feed Cheetos to the seagulls.

Irene and Charlie’s home was the heart of the family. She hosted and cooked many meals for family, friends and always welcomed many guests, filling the holidays with love. Her two giant pans of turkey and giblet gravy, secret homemade Thanksgiving dressing and her rum fruit cake were always the favorites amongst the crowds. At holidays and throughout the years Irene and Charlie loved to share their Czech heritage with their family, friends and the Taylor community. They led Czech traditions like the grand march at weddings, were life long members of the S.P.J.S.T. and shared and taught others the Czech language. Irene and Charlie mostly spoke Czech to each other at home and always loved it when the bakery customers came in and spoke fluently as well.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie W. Bucanek; parents, Joe and Mildred Zycha; brothers, Leo and James Zycha; sisters, Lillian Crisp and Darlene Pyle; and son-in-law David Kubiak.

Irene is survived by her four children, Deborah Kubiak, Cheryl Perez and husband Lee, Charles D.

Bucanek and wife Tisha and Sidney Bucanek and wife Lea. She has 14 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and a great-great grandson, Brandy McAnally and husband Michael, children Hatty and Parker and wife Hera and son Ares, Brittany Keyland and husband Christopher, children Sean, James, June and Will, Blake Hegar and wife Christine, children Austin and Brody, Ashley Wier and children Caleb, Sabrina and Jazlyn, Joey Sherman and children Joey Jr. and Bella, Brooke Hegar Valdez and husband Eddie, children Brinley, Zoey and Kayden, Jaboa Matoska Atkins and husband Al, Chance Bucanek and wife Bethany, children Easton, Charlotte and Presley, Dylan Bucanek and wife Marsha, children Amelia and Ellouise, Seth Bucanek and wife Phylicia, Jessee Jeffery and wife Starr, Heather Jaecks and husband Ryan, children Layton and Stetson, Jaden Kubiak and wife Jocelyn, daughter Gianna, and Blayne Hegar.

Pallbearers were Chance Bucanek, Dylan Bucanek, Seth Bucanek, Blake Hegar, Blayne Hegar, and Jaden Kubiak. Honorary pallbearers were John Pyle Jr. and Parker McAnally.

Visitation was held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4, with rosary at 3 p.m. at Condra Funeral Home.

A funeral service was held Monday, Feb.

5, at 10 a.m. at St.

Mary’s Catholic Church.

Interment followed at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.

The family of Irene Bucanek wishes to thank all the customers who supported the Kolache Shoppe throughout the years and brought so much joy into her heart.

Special thanks to the ICU nurses Eli, Alec and Brittany at Lakeway Baylor Scott and White.