Irena Tech-Czarny, 67, passed away peacefully on March 4, 2024. She is survived by her loving husband of 46 years, Miron Czarny; her brother, Walter Tech (Ivanka); her sons, Zenon Tech-Czarny (Oksana Hucul) and Maximilian Tech-Czarny (fiancée Alexandra Kuzyszyn); her granddaughter, Seraphina Czarny; and her granddog, Puff-Puff. She was preceded in death by her younger brother, Zenon Tech. A longtime resident of Princeton, NJ, Irena was born in 1956 to ethnically Ukrainian parents Mikolaj and Ewa Tech in Gizycko, Poland. Irena’s family later moved to Przemyśl, Poland, where her parents ran a successful local bakery and tended bees. She left Poland at the age of twenty in search of greater opportunities. Irena arrived in the United States, where she first worked as an au pair and eventually transitioned into the culinary arts. Irena was exceptionally skilled in the kitchen and known by many for her simple yet elegant gourmet meals. During her long career as a chef, Irena cooked privately for Barbara Piasecka Johnson and catered for many notable Princetonians. Over the years, while raising her two young sons and catering, Irena worked in several corporate and real estate positions. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Telecommunications (2004) and began working at Princeton University, where she specialized in data management for the Dining Services office for two decades. In addition to her remarkable cooking, Irena will be fondly remembered as a woman of deep strength and many talents. Her childhood in Communist Poland imbued her with grit and resourcefulness. There was nothing Irena couldn’t fix or figure out. She was a proponent of holistic wellness, spirituality, and natural living. An avid gardener, Irena could often be found outside her home, listening to an audiobook or recorded talk while tending to her lush gardens filled with edible plants and flowers. Nature brought her much joy, as did spending time with family and friends. Irena will be profoundly missed. Gone too soon, she will never be forgotten. There will not be a wake or viewing. The Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, March 9th, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church, New Brunswick, NJ. Visitors may offer condolences from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. or immediately after the liturgy at the church. Please note: Irena’s body will be taken for private cremation directly following the Church Funeral Service on Saturday, March 9th – there will not be a gathering that day. Irena’s ashes will be interred at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Irena's name, can be made to support St. Josaphat Eparchy’s Humanitarian Aid to Ukraine Fund, or Help Us Help the Children.