Patty Kolar

Patricia "Patty" Kolar passed away peacefully on May 18, 2023 after a decades long battle with Parkinson's disease. She was 79 years old.

A joint memorial for Patty and Roger will be held on Friday, June 9th at 6:30pm at St. Austin Catholic Parish 2026 Guadalupe St, Austin, Texas 78705. A graveside service will be held on Saturday June 10th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, 1678 Cemetery Road, West, Texas 76691.

Patty was born November 19, 1943 to Josephine (Maresh) and Albin Sulak in West, Texas. It was in her first grade classroom in West where she met Roger Kolar, her husband of nearly 56 years. Roger and Patty married in 1967, and lived in Rapid City, South Dakota, and Alexandria, Louisiana, before settling in Austin, Texas in 1970. Roger was always lovingly by Patty's side through sickness and in health, and poetically passed away from cancer 3 days after Patty's death.

Patty earned a Bachelor's in English and completed graduate coursework at the University of Texas and worked as a school teacher for many years. She started her career at O'Henry Junior High, and then taught at Waco University High School while Roger served in the Air Force in Vietnam. When Roger returned and they moved back to Austin, Patty became the Journalism teacher at Johnston High School and then Lanier High School where she sponsored the school yearbook and newspaper. She later worked in research and editing for a textbook publisher.

Patty and Roger were longtime members of the University Catholic Center where they taught first grade Sunday school for many years. They were also members of St. Austin's Catholic Parish and Emmaus Catholic Church in Lakeway, and they were both passionate about supporting organizations devoted to bettering the world and caring for those in need.

While Parkinson's made life progressively more difficult for Patty as the years went on, she lived a full life and never let her disease define her. Patty first started experiencing symptoms of Parkinson's just weeks before she and Roger traveled to Honduras to finalize the adoption of two of their children. The following year, with four children and a fifth on the way, the diagnosis was confirmed. Patty continued doing the things she loved: raising her family, staying involved in the Czech community, working, and traveling. Patty was an avid reader and student of the written word who had a vast knowledge of literature, poetry, and theater. Patty and Roger kept up a busy international travel schedule up until the pandemic. As Patty's Parkinson's progressed, she found great support and community through the organization Power for Parkinson's.

One of Patty's greatest sources of pride was her five children, Susan (Bill) Bohn, Stephen (Margaret) Kolar, Emily (Sara) Kolar, Anthony Kolar, and John (Jaclyn) Kolar. A dedicated, energetic and involved mother, she edited school papers, volunteered at their schools, and showed up to celebrate and support her kids at sports events, band recitals, ballet performances, and many more. She loved being Mimi to her 7 grandchildren, Brice, Brooks, Izzy, Alex, Miles, Miklas, and Olina, caring for the eldest two when they were infants.

In addition to her children and grandchildren, she is also survived by her siblings Albin Sulak, Michael (Jeanette) Sulak, Tim (Gail) Sulak, and Jane (Jerry) Luco and their families.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to www.powerforparkinsons.org.