Irena was born in Ścinawka Górna, south-western Poland. She completed high school in Nowa Ruda, where she attended art classes at the House of Culture under the guidance of artist F. Martin. After matriculating, she worked as a bookkeeper and exhibited with the art society at the N. O. K. Culture Centre.

In 1972, Irena migrated to Adelaide, Australia. Together with her sister Czesława Starmach Jakubowski and Leszek Dankowski, she co-founded the Australian-Polish Arts Society of SA. She served as President from 1989 to 1991.

In 1977, Irena married Jan Sroczyński, a member of the Royal Australian Air Force. His postings took the family to various locations, including Brisbane, Sydney, Wagga Wagga, Canberra, Melbourne, and Malaysia. They eventually settled in Adelaide.

A mother of three, Irena often paints her children and enjoys exploring various art forms and crafts. She is a member of the Knights of the Immaculate, which influences the religious character of some of her work. She also worked as a scenographer with Fr Marian Szablewski’s Ottoway Theatrical Ensemble.

Irena primarily works in oils and has exhibited her artwork at many venues, including Millennium Hall, Dom Kopernika, Dom Polski Centre, the Barossa Valley, and the Royal SA Society of Arts Gallery, most notably as part of the 40th Anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising Exhibition. With the Australian-Polish Arts Society, she has showcased her work in numerous exhibitions over the years, including the Art for Heart charity exhibitions for the SA Heart Foundation, the Dożynki Festival, and other cultural and community events.