Wilma Thekla Stryk

Wilma Thekla Matocha Stryk, 90, was born September 23, 1922 to Joe and Genevieve Matocha in Smithville, Texas and went to her final resting place on January 21, 2013. Wilma grew up in Cistern, Texas and graduated from Flatonia High School. She married Joe Stryk and briefly lived in South Dakota while Joe served in the United States Air Force. After WWII, Wilma and Joe moved to Rosenberg. Wilma was an active member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church and served as the librarian and later as librarian assistant for Holy Rosary Catholic School first as a volunteer from the late 1940's until 1963, and as an employee from 1963 to 2011 and continued to volunteer until May of 2012. She was active in the Parent Teachers Club and served as an officer several times and was a Catholic Youth Organization sponsor for many years while her children were in high school. Wilma was a member of the Holy Rosary Catholic Daughters, Holy Rosary Altar Society, American Legion Auxiliary, Royal Neighbor, KJZT, and Young at Heart. From the moment you walked into the room, you always noticed Wilma, reading a book about WWII; and though she loved reading, she was never too busy to look up from the pages, and give you a big smile and hug. It's who she was. The only thing she loved more than a good game of Farkle or Chicken Foot, was her family, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. While her grandchildren were vying to be "Granny's favorite," she was playing with her great-grandchildren, hiding a toy and making them find it, singing them a Czech nursery rhyme, tapping them on the opposite shoulder and shrugging when they asked who did it. If you talked to Wilma about work, she would quickly tell you that she has worked for eighty-four years, that she started working when she was six years old, babysitting an infant for a family that worked the farm. If there was anything she couldn't handle, she was to raise a flag on the porch and alert the parents, and in her words, " I never had to raise the flag." For more than fifty five years as she worked in the library for Holy Rosary Catholic School, she was able to teach children how to use the library and fostered in them a love of books. Wilma's strength came, in part, from her growing up during the depression; where she learned to appreciate everything that was given to her. It also came from her deep Catholic faith and fervor, where on any morning you could find her at church; and on any evening, you could find her praying the rosary before supper. Her strength and immutable faith served as inspirations to everyone who knew her. And her memory will live on, not only through the stories and the pictures that survive, but through the hand-made noodles, for her chicken noodle soup, that she made every holiday, the ones she taught her daughter, daughters in-law, and her granddaughters to make, her secret that will be taught down the line for generations and generations to come. Wilma is preceded in death by her husband, Joe L. Stryk, her parents, and son, Michael L. Stryk, sisters Lena Bacak and Mary Trlicek, and brothers Benjamin Beno Matocha and J.C. Matocha. She is survived by her children, Patrick L. Stryk and wife Eve of Marble Fall, Texas, Mark J. Stryk and wife Debbi of Richmond, TX, and Joanie Rethlake and husband Roger of Richmond TX, grandchildren, Desire Harris of Florida, Lance Harris and wife Tina of Florida, Wade Stryk and wife Megan of San Antonio TX, Aaron Stryk and wife Christie of Spring, TX, Shaun Griffin and wife Kelly of Katy, TX, Leah Shackelford and husband Shannon of Round Rock, TX, Nicole Arizpe and husband V.J. of Houston, TX, Susannah Stryk of Richmond, TX, Natalie Scott and husband Steven of Round Rock, TX, Patrick Griffin of Richmond, TX, great-grandchildren, Michael Griffin and Brooke Griffin of Katy, Avery Shackelford of Round Rock, TX, Porter Stryk of San Antonio, TX, her sister Annie Tupa of San Antonio, TX, brothers Charlie Matocha and Franklin Matocha of Rosenberg, TX, Ted Matocha and wife Evelyn of Victoria, TX and numerous nieces and nephews. Pall Bearers will be Wade Stryk, Aaron Stryk, Shaun Griffin, Patrick Griffin, Shannon Shackelford, V.J. Arizpe, and Steven Scott. Visitation will be held from 5 pm until 8 pm with a Rosary said at 7:00 pm, Friday, January 25, 2013 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 1416 George Street, Rosenberg, Texas. A funeral mass will be officiated by Reverend William Bartniski at Holy Rosary Catholic Church on Saturday, January 26, 2013 at 10 am. Interment will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park, 3900 B F Terry Blvd, Rosenberg, Texas. For those who wish, in lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Holy Rosary Catholic School Library or Holy Rosary Catholic Church Building Our Future Fund at 1416 George Street, Rosenberg, Texas 77471. Words of condolence may be left for the Stryk family at www.davisgreenlawnfh.com

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Wilma Thekla Stryk

September 23, 1922 - January 21, 2013