Willa Mae Cervenka

Willa Mae Cervenka, age 89, of Waco, formerly of West, passed away early Sunday morning, March 15, 2009 at Providence Health Center. A rosary will be recited 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Aderhold Funeral Home by Janice Kaluza. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West, with Rev. Anthony Odiong as celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery near West. Willa Mae was born on December 19, 1919 in Tours, to the late Will J. and Annie (Smajstrla) Cervenka, She attended Leggott Elementary School, St. Mary's School, and graduated from West High School. She went on to Providence Hospital School of Nursing in Waco and received her degree as a Registered Nurse. In the eight years with Providence Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association, she served as their President. Willa Mae was very dedicated to preserving and promoting the Czech culture, heritage, and language. In 1994, she attended the summer studies program in the Valasske Museum at Roznov P. R. Czech Republic. In 1997, she was instrumental in organizing a group of Czech descendants from Texas, who for the first time marched and performed in the 52nd annual International Folk-lore parade in Straznice Moravia, Czech Republic. Through her motivation, a yellow rose was planted in the "Friendship Garden of Peace" in Lidice Czech Republic by the Stage Czech Heritage Society of Texas as a memoriam to the Lidice Massacre. She has been a host family to nineteen exchange students from the Czech Republic who attended Baylor University and McLennan Community College in Waco. She has authored numerous articles and set up programs and exhibits on the Czech culture with presentations at elementary schools. She has served as a liason for the Valasske Museum and Stage in Roznov PR Czech Republic. In 2000, she set up the McLennan Hill County Chapters first entry in the National Miss Czech-Slovak-U.S.A. Pageant in Wilber, Nebraska. Willa Mae was a charter member of the McLennan Hill Counties Chapter Czech Heritage Society, where she served as treasurer, secretary, reporter, director, and editor of the Chapter's newsletter. In 1998, she received the Chapter's Annual recognition award. In 2001, she received the annual State of Texas Czech Heritage Prestigious Award for the dedication to the Czech culture, heritage, and language and recognition award from TOCA. In 2003, she was inducted into the Order of Knights of Comenius (John Amos Komensky) for her avocation of teaching and researching the Czech culture. On April 23, 2006, she was awarded the Honorary Life Trustee award from the McLennan/Hill Czech Heritage Society. She was a member of Podhorska Jednota in Frenstat PR Czech Republic, Sokol, CEFT, TOCA, SPJST Lodge #54, K.J.Z.T., Catholic Daughters of America No. 829 in West, District of National Alliance of Czech Catholics, Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center-LaGrange, Czech Cultural Center-Houston, American Czech Culture Society in Dallas, Genealogy Society, St. Louis Catholic Church Women's Organization in Waco, Hippodrome Theatre, West Blue Bell Garden Club, Providence Hospital Auxiliary, Waco Symphony, and Beta Sigma Phi-Sorority. She is preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Wilfred Cervenka, her sister, Henrietta Cervenka; and her niece, Sharon Ann Cervenka. Survivors include her brother, Clement Cervenka and wife Mildred of Burleson; three sisters, Geraldine Davidson of Waco, Eugenia Surley of Everman, and Evelyn Ghelfi and husband Anthony of Astoria, New York; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Wilfred (Willie Mae) Cervenka of West; and several nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. Pallbearers are Mark Davidson, Troy Davidson, Marvin Cervenka, Ronnie Cervenka, Gary Cervenka, and Billy Chollett. Memorials may be made to St. Louis Catholic School in Waco, St. Mary's Catholic School in West, Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center, Inc. in La Grange, or Czech Cultural Center in Houston. Special thanks to Hillcrest Medical Center, Providence Health Center, and Regent Care Center for their loving care given to Willa Mae.