Lilyan Dvoracek

Lilyan Theresa "Lilka" Dvoracek, age 98, of West, died peacefully at her home Sunday morning, June 17, 2012, with her family by her side. She was one year and two months shy of celebrating a century of life. A rosary will be recited and Mass of Christian Burial celebrated 10:00 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West, with Rev. Ed Karasek as celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery. The family will receive visitors from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at Aderhold Funeral Home. Lilka was born to Charles and Otillie (Bezdek) Dvoracek, the oldest of five brothers and four sisters, on Thursday, August 21, 1913 on the family farm outside of West. Being the eldest in the order of birth, and helping her mother care for her siblings, was just the beginning of her many years of caring for children. Lilyan began working as a young woman as a nanny/nurse (and of course, cook - oh, she was a wonderful cook!) to families in Waco, spending a large part of that time working for the Levy family. She later moved to Dallas to continue her adventures as caregiver, but became ill after several years and returned home to the family farm. After a year at home, Lilka moved to West to live with her Tetka and Strye (aunt and uncle), Albina (Dvoracek) and Rudolph Sulak, and began a long career (58 years) of devoted service in the family restaurant, Sulak's Caf. This is where she took on another role - surrogate' mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother to her cousin's (Mary Sulak Shebesta) children, their spouses and Mary's grandchildren. Although she never married or had children of her own, she was always honored and thought of as Mother'. Lilka also had a special bond with all of her many nieces and nephews, and with scores of kids who worked with her at the caf through the years. Lilka was very close to the Albin Sulak family - her other kids'. Aunt Lil will always be remembered fondly for helping host all the Dvoracek Westfest get-togethers - the laughs, the food, the celebration, the fun! Lilyan was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings and their spouses - Albin "Bean" and Josephine Dvoracek, Martha Dvoracek, Charles "Chuck" and Laura Dvoracek, Frank and Sabina Dvoracek, Theresa "Terri" and Bill Stone, Mary "Miss D" Dvoracek, Helen and Ace Gross, Edward and Libby Dvoracek, and Herman "Joe" Dvoracek; and a nephew, Charles William Dvoracek. Lilka is survived by her children', Katherine and Gary Vrba, Joey Shebesta, and Ann Busby Machac; 7 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren (with one on the way!); a sister-in-law, Sarah Dvoracek; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Pallbearers are Josh Shebesta, Ed Dvoracek, Ryan Vrba, Tracy Busby, Michael Sulak, and Charlotte Fitzpatrick. Special thanks to Ed Dvoracek for his weekly visits; Jessica, Dylan, and Rylan Dudik for the joy (and kisses!) you brought to Lilka; George Meurer for Sunday morning communion; and all the nurses and staff at Odyssey Hospice, especially Tammy "the lady in the red dress" for their wonderful care and support. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. Mary's School Endowment Fund or St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption Building Fund.