Irene (nee Sebastian) passed away peacefully January 25, 2011 in the presence of her loving family.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband John William Cox, father Robert Sebastian, father-in-law and mother-in-law Mr. & Mrs. Walter M Cox, brother-in-laws Dr. Hugh Adair Cox and Gerald Bruce Cox.


Irene will be lovingly remembered by sons John William Cox II and Patrick Cox and wife Cindy, grandson John William Cox III, granddaughter Ashley Cox, all from Houston, Texas, sisters-in-law Caroline Shaw wife of Richard, Grantsville, Utah, and Lynne Cox wife of Gerald (deceased), Sacramento, California, mother Eva Sebastian, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and brothers John Sebastian and wife Margaret, Peachland, British Columbia, Canada., and Fred Sebastian who lost his wife Linda to the same disease, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.


Irene was raised on a farm in Punnichy, Saskatchewan, Canada. After graduating from high school Irene attended the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada where she earned a Master of Science degree in Virology in 1962. In 1963 she moved to Houston to take a position as a cancer research technologist at M.D. Anderson. After one year, she became a research assistant in the experimental biology department at Baylor University. It was during this period that she met and married John and made Houston her home. In 1967 she returned to MD Anderson and worked there until her retirement in 1996.


Her older friends all said Irene was a lovely lady who always had a good time when they socialized together. They said they remember how she always wanted to look her best. She was an inspiration to everyone who knew her and was always prepared to assist in whatever way she could.


After retirement she devoted all her time to her grandchildren John III, and Ashley. A devout Roman Catholic, Irene loved attending mass and reciting the rosary. She loved the arts, flowers, playing cards and going to casinos.


Irene we give thanks to our creator for the love, affection and sense of humor that you showed. We wish God could have spared you for a few more years; however, our hearts will always treasure your memories. You will be in our thoughts and prayers forever.


We would like to extend heartfelt thanks and appreciation to doctors and nurses at Memorial City Memorial Herman hospital and Vitas Hospice.

Interment will be at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 5, 2011 at Elmwood Cemetery, 521 E 12th Ave, Augusta, Kansas 67010.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made, in Irene's memory, to MD Anderson in care of the funeral home. An online book of condolences has been set up and can be found and signed at http://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/IECox/homepage.aspx.