Irene Petter, 94, of Wallis, Texas, went peacefully to the arms of her Lord and savior in her home on May 30, 2019, with her family by her side. She was born in Wallis on Nov. 16, 1924, to Joe Svajda and Hermina Krenek Svajda.

Irene attended Guardian Angel School and Wallis Public School. After graduating high school, she attended the University of Texas to become a teacher. After teaching, she later owned and operated the longest running café in Wallis along with her husband John Petter. Known for her cooking, people came from miles away to eat at Irene’s Café.

For pleasure, Irene loved to dance, pick pecans, go fishing, and loved her many, many dogs throughout her lifetime.

She was a member of the Guardian Angel Catholic Church, KJZT and also a member of the Catholic Daughters of America for 56 years.

Irene is preceded in death by her parents, her husband John W. Petter; and her brothers Jerome and Leonard Svajda. She is survived by her sister Mary Lee Traylor of Port Lavaca; three children, John Petter, Alexandra (Sandra) Bickett and husband Frank, and Randolph Petter and wife Adrienne; her only grandchild, Renee Simmons (Mike Simmons); great-grandchildren Ashley Foley (Tyler), Savannah and Mikayla Simmons; great-great-grandchildren Lauren Olivia and Jax Allen (twins); and many nieces and nephews.

A visitation was held on Monday, June 3, 2019, at Knesek and Sons Funeral Home in Wallis. Funeral services were held Tuesday, June 4, at Guardian Angel Catholic Church in Wallis with burial at Guardian Angel Catholic Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Knesek and Sons Funeral Home, 122 N. First St., Wallis, TX 77485, 979-478-6311, www.knesekfuneralhome.com.