Irene Covarrubias Sorrow

The family of Irene Covarrubias Sorrow shares her passing from this earthly life to her eternal heavenly home on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. She was surrounded by her daughters and husband at her home in Temple, Texas.

Irene was born on June 19, 1944, in Rockport, Texas to Alfredo and Santos Soto Covarrubias. The family of nine made a living in the shrimping and oystering industry in Port O’Connor, Texas. It was there Irene met a handsome guy from Georgia, who was serving in the Air Force in POC, in a boat unit. Rupert and Irene were married on September 9, 1961, and raised three daughters in the community. Irene served their church First Baptist POC faithfully for many years. She also worked alongside her husband in their businesses by managing a gas station and then Sorrow Air Conditioning. For a time, she operated her own gift store, The Gift Emporium, wrapping each gift in lovely ribbons for her customers.

One of Irene’s loves was her role as homemaker and her creativity shined in painting, ceramics, sewing, cake decorating, crafting, and jewelry art most recently. She made her daughter’s dresses as they grew up and gave wonderful birthday parties for them. Once she and Rupert moved to Temple, she found a new passion in giving to the Operation Christmas Child shoebox ministry. She sewed all year long making items for the little girls’ boxes that are sent abroad. Her specialty was making pillowcase dresses and purses to match. By November, she would have as many as 20 dresses or 50 purse totes ready to be put into the boxes. They were designed with ribbons and lace and bows and buttons and everything to make each one unique. The family sees Irene’s greatest legacy as leaving behind a family who felt completely adored by her, pouring love, time, and wisdom about the love of Jesus into each of them.

Irene was preceded in death by her daughter, Beverly Ulmer and grandson Gilbert Mendoza, Jr (Mijo).; parents Fred and Santos; sisters, Hilda Covarrubias and Sherri Ureste; and brothers, Alfredo (Cookie) Covarrubias and Rudy Covarrubias.

She is survived by her husband of nearly 65 years, Rupert Sorrow; daughters, Tina Mendoza (Gilbert) and Suzanne Rollo (Greg); sisters, Claudine Covarrubias, and Ludine Boyd; brother, Adolfo Covarrubias; grandchildren, Thomas Mendoza, Kevin Ulmer, Kyle Ulmer, Erik Ulmer, Lucas Rollo (Madison), Jackson Rollo and great-grandchildren Maddox Mendoza and Madelyn Mendoza.

Her arrival in heaven must have been so sweet when she was greeted there by Jesus, Beverly and Mijo, and other loved ones.

Funeral services will be held at Fellowship Baptist Church, Morgan’s Point Texas, on Monday, June 29, 2026, 10:00AM officiated by Brother Jeremy Franks. Family graveside to follow. Dossman Funeral Home is overseeing arrangements.