Joann Matus

JoAnn Matus, age 85, of West, passed away late Wednesday afternoon, March 6, 2024 at Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Hospital in Waco.

A rosary will be recited 3:00 p.m. Sunday at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West, followed by visitation until 5:oo p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 11, 2024 at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption, with Rev. Ed Karasek, Rev. Timothy Vaverek, and Rev. Walter Dhanwar as celebrants, assisted by Deacon Ronnie Sykora. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery.

JoAnn was born September 24, 1938 in Hill County, the daughter of Joe and Annie (Koval) Marek. She attended schools in West. On July 14, 1954 she married her childhood sweetheart Herman Matus in Abbott. JoAnn was a lifelong and faithful member of St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West. She was also a member of the Catholic Daughters of America Court #829 and SPJST Lodge #54. She worked for Burlington Mills, the West Mop Factory, Lorch Manufacturing, and as a nurse aide for Dr. Billy D. Pierce and West Rest Haven before working for West Community Hospital for 15 years and retiring in 1998. JoAnn enjoyed dancing, listening to polka and country music, cooking, traveling, going out to eat, and going on gambling trips with her friends. She was an avid George Strait fan and ran down the street to get a kiss on the cheek from him as his bus rolled into the Czech Stop in West. JoAnn cherished getting together with her family, having a girls day out with her daughters, and especially visits with all of her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren. She was best known to have a heart of gold and as someone who loved everyone even if she didn't know you.

JoAnn is preceded in death by her parents; a son, Ronnie Joe Matus; a brother, Eugene Hromadka; sisters, Elsie Perez and Josephine Marek; a grandson, Colby Hutyra; her great grandchildren, Hunter Matus, Logan Kaluza, Patrick Kucera, and Mavery Jo Grones.

Survivors include her beloved husband of almost 70 years, Herman Matus of West; her children, Janice Kaluza and husband Freddie of West, Susan Kucera and husband David of Mount Calm, Kenneth Matus of West, Patricia Holy and husband Richard of West, Michelle Hutyra and husband Johnny Ray of West, and Michael Matus and wife Stephanie of West; a daughter-in-law, Carol Matus of West; her grandchildren, R. J. Matus and Amanda Roznos, Brian Matus, Adam Matus, Shawn Kaluza and wife Veronica, Justin Kaluza and wife Kerri, Brandon Kaluza and wife Jennifer, Jacob Kaluza and wife Amanda, Nathan Kaluza and wife Leann, Phillip Kucera, Joshua Kucera and wife B. J., Kyle Kucera and wife Letisia, Thomas Kucera, Keith Matus and wife Mandy, Matthew Matus and wife Gina, Kaitlin Nors and husband Garrett, Jonathan Holy and wife Brittany, Greg Holy and wife Britney, Kristel Leon and husband John, Laura Grones and husband Matt, Derek Hutyra and wife Erica, Brianna Hutyra and Garrett Graham, Mason Matus, and Marissa Matus and Isaac Terrazas; her great grandchildren, Braxtyn Matus, Lakelynn Matus, Bristol Montgomery, Kylie Voight and husband Brian, Karissa Mears and husband Tyler, Landon Kaluza, Charity Martin and Matt Tabor, Tyler Kaluza and Claire Simmons, Riley Kaluza, Kera Kaluza, Preston Kaluza, Joshua Kaluza, Zachary Kaluza, William Kaluza, Noah Kaluza, Oliver "Ollie" Kaluza, Audrey Kaluza, Dylan Kucera, Chance Kucera, Jaxon Kucera, Adrianna Kucera, Alyssa Kucera, Gabriel Kucera, Jocelyn Kucera, Makayla Matus and Johnny Vera, Reagan Matus, Case Matus, Corbyn Matus, Madelyn Nors, Emmalyn Nors, Luke Holy, Raylie Holy, Audrey Holy, Sterling Holy, Lyla Leon, Elena Leon, Ryan Leon, Wyatt Grones, Jase Grones, Addison Hutyra and Colby Burton; her great great grandchildren, Bentley Kaluza, Anthony Voight, Carter Voight, Maverick Voight, Weston Mears, and Blakely JoAnn Mears on the way; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Active pallbearers are R. J. Matus, Shawn Kaluza, Phillip Kucera, Keith Matus, Jonathan Holy, Derek Hutyra and Mason Matus. Honorary pallbearers are her grandsons, granddaughters, Tom Marek, Emanuel Mitchell, Lee Love and Raymond Polansky.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the West Volunteer Ambulance Association.