Irene Mergl
Irene was born in January 1933 in New York Hospital to parents John and Vilma Hall who had emigrated through Ellis Island in 1927 from Czechoslovakia. They originally lived on East 73rd street but soon moved to East 71st Street only yards away from TJ Sokol New York. Irene was soon the eldest sister to Julia and Ann.
Irene attended grammar school at PS 82 and then Julia Richman High School. In 1955 she married Robert Gallagher and had two sons, Kevin and Thomas while living at First Avenue and 69th Street. Her strong Czechoslovak roots led naturally to joining TJ Sokol New York at an early age and she began her gymnastic experience. Irene became a member in 1963 and through the years held several offices including Vice President and Historian. After a divorce Irene married her soulmate Stanley in 1965. Together Irene and Stanley became a fixture in Sokol Hall and everything Sokol. Many a day and evening were spent there heavily involved in gymnastics and organizational meetings as well as up at Camp Sokol in East Haddam, Connecticut, and national and international gymnastic Slets.
Irene’s working career began at New York Hospital starting as a secretary to the Head Nurse of Pediatrics, to the Assistant to the Dean of Nursing and ended as Assistant to the Vice President of Nursing after a total of 33 years at the hospital.
Irene’s love of her Yorkville roots ran deep. She never liked hearing the neighborhood referred to as “the Upper East Side”. She passed along her knowledge and experience to her sons and she was the personal cheerleader for Kevin and Tom in their respective lives and careers. Family strength, traditions, the holidays and patriotism were instilled into her sons. Love of God, family, country and the Czechoslovakian heritage were very important to her.
Irene will be missed by all who knew her but especially her two sons, daughter-in-law, three grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Irene now joins Stanley, her sister Julia and her parents in Heaven. Thanks for everything Mom.
New Title
Bernardo Wacholder
Ronald H Sugarman
Ralph Anthony Zagaria
Pat Gaffney Visitation October 14, 2026 Wednesday 4-8PM John Krtil Funeral Home 1297 1st Ave New York, NY 10021 Funeral Mass October 15, 2026 Thursday 1030AM St Monica's Church 413 E79th St New York, NY 10075
Mrs. Craigin Howard Salsgiver
Vanessa Norton
Click Here for Livestream Mary Ginty Visitation: Monday August 24, 2026 9am-930 AM John Krtil Funeral Home 1297 1st Ave New York, NY 10021 Funeral Mass: Monday August 24, 2026 10 AM St. John Nepomucene 411 E66th St New York, NY 10065 Private Cremation
Thomas F. Burchill III Funeral Mass: Tuesday August 18, 2026 10 AM Church of St. Ignatius Loyola 980 Park Ave New York, NY 10028 Inurnment: Tuesday August 18, 2026 1 PM Calverton National Cemetery 210 Princeton Blvd Calverton, NY 11933
Pilar Sierra Visitation: Sunday August 9, 2026 2pm - 7pm John Krtil Funeral Home 1297 1st Ave New York, NY 10021 Funeral Mass: Monday August 10, 2026 10 AM St. John Nepomucene 411 E66th St New York, NY 10065 Private Cremation
Betty Jane Sloan Visitation: Monday August 3, 2026 4pm - 7pm John Krtil Funeral Home 1297 1st Ave New York, NY 10021 Private Cremation