Irene was born in Ft. Stockton, Texas to Joe and Asteria Hernandez on August 17, 1972. She went to school in Ft. Stockton and graduated from Ft. Stockton High School in 1991. Like her mother and grandmother, Irene loved to play Bingo, and she loved to go to the casinos in Las Vegas and Hobbs, New Mexico to play the slot machines. During football season she could always be found in front of the television watching college football on Saturdays and rooting for Texas A & M and on Sunday’s rooting for the Dallas Cowboys. In 2019, she and her brother moved to San Antonio, Texas. As she was a huge fan of WWE wrestling, this move afforded her the opportunity to go to all the WWE live events every time they were in town, not missing one live show event. Like her brother, she was a Spurs fan and was able to go see them live. She enjoyed going to the movies and out to eat, Red Lobster being her favorite place, and any other outing which she could enjoy in the company of her brother. Irene loved life and was a fighter, overcoming every obstacle any doctor had said she would face. Despite her handicap and the many restrictions she had, she always maintained a positive outlook on life. She was feisty and brought much laughter to those she was with. She looked harmless but would quickly speak her mind and let you know what she thought if provoked. She loved easily and to those she loved, she loved with all her heart. She was a Catholic and attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Ft. Stockton and Santo Nino Catholic Church in San Antonio.

A viewing will be held on Monday, September 9, 2024, from 12-8 p.m. Rosary will be at 7 at Eternity Funeral Home. Services will be Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish - St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with burial to follow at Fort Stockton Catholic Cemetery in Ft. Stockton. Arrangements are entrusted to Eternity Funeral Home. Irene was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Joe and Rumalda Hernandez and maternal grandparents Jimmy and Irene Urias and her parents Joe and Asteria Hernandez. She is survived by one brother John Paul Hernandez of San Antonio and several aunts, uncles, cousins and her “little brother” Art Ureste of San Antonio who was her caretaker for many years and whom she loved dearly. Pallbearers will be Anthony Urias, Dr. Aaron Urias, Nathaniel Franco, Isaac Franco, Jorge Benavente and Manuel Espino. Memorials may be given to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. The family would like to thank Crest Home Health and Elara Caring for the exceptional home care they provided and for the many nurses who tended to her at all hours of the night. To Trinity Hospice for the compassionate care they provided during her final days at home.