Irene Kay Hotovy was born on September 10, 1930, in Ulysses the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Krenk) Hraban and passed away on July 27, 2017 in Seward at the age of 86 years, 10 months and 17 days. She grew up on the family farm near Bee. She attended country school and later graduated from Seward High School with the class of 1948. After school Irene stayed at home to care for her brother Raymond.

On September 10, 1951, Irene was united in marriage to Frederick G. Hotovy at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Bee. After Fred returned from his military service the couple lived in Ulysses where they farmed and Irene cared for their three children. In 1970, the family moved to Seward where Irene began working at the Seward elementary and middle school as a paraprofessional. She loved working with the kids and did so for over 10 years.

Irene enjoyed flowers, collecting dolls and loved spending time with and babysitting her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Irene and Fred loved driving their grandchildren to school every morning. She was a long time member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, PCCW and a lifelong member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary

Irene was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Mary, her in-laws Fred and Gabriella Hotovy, three brothers, Raymond Hraban, Joseph Hraban and wife Helen, Rayfeil Hraban, four sisters, Genevieve and husband Warren Woodruff, Mary and husband Ray Hubert, Berniece and husband Virgil Vondra, and Marcella and husband Raymond Hottovy, two brothers-in-laws, Stanley Hotovy and Joe Kobza.

Survivors include her husband Frederick, three children, Gregory A and wife Linda Hotovy of Seward, Daniel and wife Chris Hotovy of Gretna, NE; and Marla and husband Ryon Baumbach of Seward, seven grandchildren and their families, Jeremy and wife Lindsay Hotovy and their children, Brayton, Lander and Ryler, Stacy and husband D.R. Herrold and their children Rex and Rayven, Stephanie and husband Tom Morse and their son William, Nathan Hotovy and his son Jaxon, Eric Hotovy, Ashley and husband Alex Volnek and their daughter Hailey and Brittany Baumbach, two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Hraban and Rita Kobza, brother-in-law, Father Dennis Hotovy, numerous nieces and nephews and a host of friends. To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers and memories of a life shared with Irene.