Veronica Bialas Mattheaus

Veronica Bialas Mattheaus Veronica Bialas Mattheaus, at the age of 97, returned to be with her Lord in Heaven on Friday, November, 2, 2012, after a brief illness. She was born on January 9, 1915 in Chappell Hill, Texas, to the late Vincent and Hedwig Mechalik Bialas. One of twelve children, Veronica and her family lived in Rosenberg, Texas as a child. She married her life-long partner, Alfred Raymond Mattheaus, on October 23, 1935, in Beasley, Texas at Friedens United Church. He preceded her in death on August 31, 2005, his birthday. Together they faced hard times through the depression, farming with mules and living primarily off of the things they raised themselves. They lived two years in Needville and then in Beasley until 1945, continuing to farm. Then, the couple moved to Webster, Texas, where Veronica was a homemaker and became the mother of three children, LaVern, Kenneth, and Wanda. Later, when her children were in school, Veronica went to work for Clear Creek ISD, in the food service department. She also helped her sister throw the Houston Chronicle house to house. Veronica later retired in 1979, she and Alfred moved to a new home between Boling and Pledger where they farmed and raised cattle. She then took on a twenty plus year job of babysitting her three grandsons, Luke, Nick, and Jake, a job which she loved and was dedicated to. In 2004, the couple moved to Wharton. Veronica was Lutheran by faith and very active in her church, teaching Sunday School, Bible School, singing in the choir and doing many projects and activities that were church driven. She became a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Wharton in 1979. She loved gardening, flowers, cooking, canning, making kolaches and homemade bread, sewing her children's clothes and quilting. But the thing she loved most, was her family and friends. She found great enjoyment in giving of herself and the things she made including canned goods from her garden, fresh fruits and vegetables or homemade sausage. Veronica was preceded in death by her husband Alfred R. Mattheaus, her oldest daughter LaVern Fay George, her loving parents Vincent and Hedwig Bialas, 10 siblings, John, Joe, Max, Eddie, and Nick Bialas, Mary Kalinowski, Lily Eda, Annie Eda, Clara Waters, and Francis Ganski. Survivors include son Kennneth Dale Mattheaus and Beverly Kyle, and her son- in- law Charles George. She is also survived by her daughter Wanda Kay Popp and husband Wayne, grandsons Luke Anthony and wife Jenna, Nicholas Wayne and wife Jenny, and Jake Matthew and wife Sarah Beth. She is also survived by four great- grandsons Eli Anthony, Ethan Mark, Brody Nicholas, and Hudson Charles Popp, who are honorary pallbearers. Other significant children in her life include Dennis Berry, Sandra Walsh, Spencer and Hannah Walsh. Pallbearers are Luke, Nicholas and Jake Popp, Gerald Mathis, Dennis Berry and Wayne Waters Jr. Visitation was held on November 5, 2012 from 5:30 to 8:30 at Wharton Funeral Home. Services were held on November 6, 2012 at 2:00 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wharton, 325 N. East Ave. Remembrances in Veronica's memory may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church.