Marie Matula

Marie Lydia (Urbanovsky) Matula, age 84, of Abbott, passed away late Saturday evening, August 15, 2009 at Hill Regional Hospital in Hillsboro. A rosary will be recited and Mass of Christian Burial celebrated 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Abbott, with Rev. B. George as celebrant. Burial will follow at Fatima Cemetery. The family will receive visitors from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Mrs. Matula was born September 5, 1924 in Abbott, the daughter of Vinc and Amalie Angeline (Ruzicka) Urbanovsky. She attended Brooken school and on October 2, 1946 was united in marriage to Robert F. Matula in West. They were married for 50 years and 9 months when he preceded her in death on July 15, 1997. To this union, Marie gave birth to two children, Charles and LaVerne. Marie and Robert were one of the founding members of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Marie and her sister Evelyn formed the first church choir in 1948. Later, their sister Helen also joined them. She continued singing in the choir until 1978. For 20 years, she served as a member of the Ladies Altar Society, caring for the Altar linens and arranging bouquets for church services. Marie was widely known for her baking skills, especially her wedding cakes. She baked and decorated many cakes for newlyweds throughout the state. Marie also loved gardening and her passion was her flowers. She won many awards for canning and flowers. Marie also served as Adult Leader for 4-H for many years and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary in Itasca. Survivors include a daughter, LaVerne Hutcheson and husband Sammy of Itasca; a son, Charles Matula of Waco; two granddaughters, Kristi Burns and husband Jeffery of Cleburne, and Lucinda (Cindy) Hauptman and husband Eric of Itasca; a brother, Alphons Urbanovsky of Aquilla; two sisters, Evelyn Freeburn of McCook, NB and Helen Lenart of Abbott; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Abbott Volunteer Fire Department, West EMS, or Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church Choir.