Ida Irene Malek, 93, a resident of Bethany Gardens in Rome, formerly of Utica, passed away Sunday, March 7, 2010 at Rome Memorial Hospital with her loving family by her side. Ida was born March 8, 1916 in Watertown, NY, the daughter of William and Ruby (Vandawalker) Dona. On June 28, 1950, Ida married Leo J. Malek in Johnstown, NY. Mr. Malek passed away in 1956. She went on to become an LPN, employed with St. Elizabeth Hospital and later with Genesee Nursing Home in Utica. Ida then retired to Florida where she lived for 25 years, before returning to the area in 1993. Ida is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Dolores and Richard Hance, North Utica, Patricia Kozlowski, Rome; seven grandchildren and their spouses, Tom and Dianne Kozlowski, Deborah Sneed, Sherry and John Baumes, Michele Kozlowski, Jeanne and Fred Prill, Paul and Angela Hance, Karen and George Arbogast, Barbara (Mrs. Rick) Hance. She is also survived by eleven great grandsons, and one great, great granddaughter, as well as many nieces and nephews. Besides her husband, Ida is predeceased by a son, Glen Crary, a son-in-law, John Kozlowski, a grandson, Rick Hance, a sister, Ruby Loux, and a brother, Richard Dona. Mrs. Malek's funeral will be held on Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 9:15 from the Heintz Funeral Home, 408 Herkimer Road, North Utica and at 10:00 am in St. Mark's Church, N. Utica, where her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Interment will follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Whitestown. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the funeral home Wednesday evening from 4 - 7 pm. Those wishing may donate to Bethany Gardens Activities, 800 West Chestnut St., Rome, NY 13440 or to Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc., 4277 Middle Settlement Rd., New Hartford, NY 13413 in Ida's memory. Ida's family wishes to express their thanks and heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Podkowka and to the nurses and staff of Bethany Gardens for the care, compassion, and many kindnesses shown to both Ida and her family during her long battle with Alzheimer's.