Alice Anna Schroeder Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Alica Anna Jurca Schroeder passed away peacefully on December 20, 2020 at the age of 93. She was born to Frances and Frank Jurca in Needville, Texas. She attended school in Needville and graduated from Richmond High School in 1945. Alice worked at Dow Chemical for four years, and during that time, Leland Schroeder, also from Needville, began to court her. She married Leland in 1948 and they moved to Houston, where they raised their family. She instilled in her six children values of spirituality, honesty and hard work. Alice ensured that faith and spirituality were engrained in all that the family did. Her faith is a gift to be passed down for generations. Alice regularly volunteered at St. Christopher’s Catholic Parish and School in Houston where all the Schroeder children attended 1st through 8th grades. She was also a member of the Diocese Council of Catholic Women (commonly referred to as the ‘Women’s Club’) and the Altar Society. Alice was highly committed to charity work, and she made it a priority by dedicating significant time and effort to serving others in need. This was aligned to her spiritual values of practicing faith, hope and charity. Her biggest charitable venture of nursing home visitation became an almost life-long vocation. She started-up and led this ministry at St. Christopher’s Catholic Parish for over 25 years. Alice also started-up periodic Mass services at the nursing homes. In 1971, Alice became a Eucharistic Minister (now referred to as ‘Extraordinary Minister’), and integrated Holy Communion with nursing home visits to Catholic residents. She also visited non-Catholics. Alice was awarded a metal of volunteerism by the St. Christopher’s church recognizing her leadership and dedication to the nursing home ministry. She and Lee retired to Franklin, Texas, where she was an active member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, and took her nursing ministry to the nearby towns of Bremond and Franklin, Texas. Alice was also a gifted artist, and her “canvas” was cake. Her decorated Easter eggs were featured in a front-page photo in the Houston Post. She also made all sorts of decorated cakes and goodies for school events, graduations, weddings, baby showers and family reunions. As a couple and as family, Alice and Lee loved to dance the waltz, polka and two-step. Leland and Alice enjoyed dancing in their youth and this activity grew exponentially upon retirement. Over the years, they joined multiple dance “clubs” - dance halls with an annual membership, including clubs in Industry, Cameron, Shelby and Buckholts. They also threw their own party dances and invited many of their friends. They and their children held dances for special occasions, such as their 50th wedding anniversary. After many years of enjoying dances, their physical limitations restricted their ability to attend dances. However, they would still dance in the kitchen, living room or Lee’s office while listening to polka time radio show. She is survived by her children Don, Dianne, Kathy, Garret, Sue and Steve, 9 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband Lee of 72 year, her parents, 2 brothers, Louis and Albert Jurca and 2 sisters, Julia Zacek and Bessie McMillan. A Celebration of Life will be scheduled for Alice and Leland Schroeder when we are able to safely gather. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations be made in Alice’s honor to: Catholic Charities, Brazos Valley 1410 Cavitt Ave. Bryan, Texas 77801 https://www.ccctx.org/ Or St. Mary’s Seminary 9845 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77024 https://www.smseminary.com/ Please pray the Rosary with us from your home at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 22..

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Alice Anna Schroeder

September 2, 1927 - December 20, 2020