Estelle Marek

Estelle Mildred Marek, age 87, of West, passed away late Monday night, August 21, 2017, at St. Catherine's Center in Waco. A rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m. on Friday at the Aderhold Funeral Home Chapel, with visitation to follow until 8:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 26, 2017 at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West, with Rev. Anthony Odiong and Rev. Darrell Kostiha as co-celebrants, assisted by Deacon Ronnie Sykora. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery in West. Estelle was born February 24, 1930 near Cottonwood, the daughter of John and Hattie (Neckar) Hanzlicek. She attended schools in the West and Cottonwood areas. On November 16, 1948 she was united in marriage to Edmund F. Marek in Penelope. Estelle worked alongside her husband on the family farm and ranch where they did custom hay baling and combining before retiring in 1994. Together they were honored with many agricultural awards. Estelle also worked at Lorch Manufacturing Company in West. Edmund, her loving husband of 51 years, preceded her in death on August 27, 2000. Estelle was a very faithful member of St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West and was a former member of the Church of the Nativity BVM in Penelope, where she was a member of the Altar Society and served as a Eucharistic Minister. She was also a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Sacred Heart #829, KJZT St. Ludmila Society #11, McLennan-Hill Czech Heritage Society and the SPJST Lodge #54, where she served many years as a youth director. Estelle enjoyed gardening, deer hunting and sewing. She especially loved to cook and bake for her family and neighbors, and spend time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Estelle is also preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Mary Johnson and Helen Cepak; brothers, Johnny Sr., George, Herman, Edwin and Bennie Hanzlicek; and son-in-law, Larry Podsednik. Survivors include her daughters, Rose Parma and husband Ray of Elm Mott, Kathy Podsednik of West and Melissa Holt and husband Wesley of Elm Mott; brother, Leo Hanzlicek; sister, Hattie Kadlubar and husband Bernard; grandchildren, Stephanie Campbell and husband Gordon, Shelly Foit and husband Joe, Rachel Regan and husband Tom, Robyn Wollas and husband Dr. Joseph, Rebecca Podsednik, Tyler Holt and Alyssa Holt; great grandchildren, Ashley Ortiz and husband Israel, Tanner and Landon Campbell, Kynlie, Sarah and Joseph "Bo" Foit, Wynn and Eleanor "Ella" Regan, and Ava and Nathan Wollas; brothers and sisters-in-law, Frankie and Callie Marek, Edwin and Rosalie Marek, Shirley and Jack Willenborg, Mary Ann Hutyra, Helen Smith, and Leona Hanzlicek; her "bestest" friend, JoAnn Matus; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Active pallbearers are Gordon Campbell, Tanner Campbell, Joe Foit, Tyler Holt, Israel Ortiz, Tom Regan, Joseph Wollas, John Dvorak Jr., Danny Kadlubar, and Freddie Kaluza. Honorary pallbearers are Stephanie and Landon Campbell, Ashley Ortiz; Rachel, Wynn and Ella Regan; Shelly, Kynlie, Sarah and Bo Foit; Robyn, Ava and Nathan Wollas; Rebecca Podsednik and Alyssa Holt. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to West Volunteer Ambulance Association, St. Catherine's Center, McLennan-Hill Czech Heritage Society or JCDA Adopted Grandparent Program. The family would like to thank the nurses and aides at St. Catherine's Center for their unwavering care, most especially JoAnn, Felicia, Paul, Karen and Darrell; the Providence Hospice Care Team; and Dr. Charles Shoultz II and his medical team, along with the Providence CHF Clinic, for a lifetime of love and care. Most importantly, they want to thank their family and friends for their abundant prayers, tremendous support and constant love.