Mary Hessel

Mary Ann (Zahirniak) Hessel, age 99, of Lacy Lakeview, peacefully passed away in her sleep Friday morning, April 11, 2025 at Baylor Scott and White Hillcrest Hospital in Waco.

The family will receive visitors from 9:00 a.m. Monday until service time. A rosary will be recited and Mass of Christian Burial celebrated 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 21, 2025, at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West, with Rev. Ed Karasek as celebrant, assisted by Deacon Ronnie Sykora. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery.

Mary was born on February 9, 1926, in West, the daughter of Willie and Annie (Cepak) Zahirniak. She attended St. Mary's School and the West public schools. Mary was united in marriage on November 20, 1948, to Lawrence Hessel. He preceded her in death on February 28, 2002. Mary retired from the Quality Control Department of Plantation Foods after 25 years of service. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West, SPJST Lodge 66 in Waco, KJZT Society #11 in West, and retired from Geneva Hall after more than 50 years of volunteer service. After retiring, Mary and Lawrence enjoyed traveling extensively. Their adventures included three trips to Hawaii, as well as visits to Alaska, Jamaica, Germany, Switzerland, and a 28-day stay in London, England. They also traveled to Italy, the Holy Land, and Cairo, Egypt. Additionally, they took a two-week cruise from England to Holland and made numerous gambling trips to Las Vegas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, where they also enjoyed horse racing.

Mary is also preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Willie Mae Sulak and her husband John; brothers, Robert Zahirniak and wife Mary, Joe Zahirniak and wife Dorothy, and Ernest Zahirniak and wife Mona; a brother-in-law, Jim Warner; and a grandson-in-law, Eric Wardell.

Those left to carry on her memory include her daughters, Carol Ehret and husband Jay and Dianne Little and husband Bruce; a sister, Helen Warner; a brother, Willie "Bill" Zahirniak and wife Beulah; a sister-in-law, Cynthia Zahirniak; a brother-in-law, Kenneth Hessel; her grandchildren, Brad Roberts and wife Dayna, Chris Roberts, Chelsey Sosolik and husband Brian, and Laci Wardell; her great grandchildren, Braiden Wardell and fiance Haley Wilson, Kaylie Wardell, Jacob and Riley Roberts, Logan and Landon Sosolik, and Kenna and Callie Roberts; a newly born great great granddaughter, Stephanie; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Active pallbearers are Brad Roberts, Chris Roberts, Brian Sosolik, Edwin Sulak, Eddie Scheler, James Warner, Kenneth Zahirniak, and Edward Zahirniak. Honorary pallbearers are her great grandchildren and great-great granddaughter.

The family would like to thank Mary's neighbors, Howard and Pat Childs, for all of their help throughout the years.