Lorene Betty Holy

Lorene Betty Holy, age 86, of West, passed away peacefully early Thursday morning, March 23, 2017, in Waco. A rosary will be recited at 5:00 p.m. Sunday at Aderhold Funeral Home Chapel in West, with visitation to follow until 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 27, 2017, at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West, with Rev. Paul Hudson as celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery. A child of the Great Depression, Lorene was born May 7, 1930, in Abbott, the daughter of Joe and Marie (Bazant) Grones. She attended Alligator Creek School and was a graduate of Abbott High School. On November 18, 1947, she was united in marriage to Joe Holy, Jr. at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Abbott, Texas. They were blessed with four children. After 67 years of marriage, Joe preceded her in death on February 5, 2015. Lorene was a mother and homemaker, supporting and working alongside of Joe in management of the family farm. She was a faithful member of St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption, Catholic Daughters of America Court #829, and KJZT St. Ludmilla Society #11. Lorene taught her children how to pray when they were tiny and took them to church regularly, instructing them to trust in God. It was important to her that they understood and shared her deep faith. A talented baker and cook renowned for her frosted angel food cakes, kolaches, and apple strudels, Lorene also found great joy in crochet, sewing, embroidery, and flower and vegetable gardening. She employed her skills as a seamstress in dressing her three "little dolls." Lorene loved all genres of music and was an avid reader; she was instrumental in introducing and instilling the love of music and literature in her children. She encouraged her children to pursue excellence in everything that they did, and she was extremely proud of the accomplishments of her children and grandchildren. Lorene was also preceded in death by her parents; son-in-law, Bob G. Terry; and brother, Ernest Grones. Survivors include son, Larry J. (Cynthia) Holy; daughters, Dorothy Terry, Doris (Ron) Chmielewski, and Mary Ann (William J. III) Kocurek; grandchildren, Noelle R. (Rider D) Barnes, William J. (Laura) Kocurek IV, Natalie A. Terry, Marilyn L. (Erik) Deuble, Gabriel E. Chmielewski, Allison N. Terry, and Joseph A. Holy; great-grandsons, William J. Kocurek V, Jiggs R Barnes, and Kyle A. Kocurek; great-granddaughter, Elliot Rene' Barnes; brothers, Danny (Rea) Grones and Ronnie (Lisa) Grones; sister, JoAnn (Don) Duke; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and a host of friends who loved her. Pallbearers are Larry J. Holy, Joseph A. Holy, Ronald E. Chmielewski, Gabriel E. Chmielewski, William J. Kocurek III, William J. Kocurek IV, Rider D Barnes, and Erik Deuble. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Joseph's Hall Renovation Fund or St. Louis Catholic Church Television Ministry. The family wishes to thank all of Lorenes caregivers and her resident-friends with whom she shared happy times in her last years.