Dolores Hlavinka

DOLORES M. (MIKEL) HLAVINKA Dolores “Pat” was born September 19, 1935 in Sealy, Texas to Joe P & Rosalie (Pawlak) Mikel. She was the older sister to Janet R “Nenet” Gensler. Dolores M Mikel married Joseph “Joe” Frank Hlavinka May 16, 1953, Holy Family Catholic Church, Wharton. They started their life together in New Gulf then later (1957) moved to the Hlavinka family farm, Boones Bend (Hungerford) Texas; after the departure of both Joseph M & Rosie M (Mills) Hlavinka. This is where they raised their three children. Later Dolores went back to get her GED at Wharton County Junior College. Dolores was dedicated to and deeply loved her family and was a devout Catholic. She enjoyed talking and being with family and friends. Dolores and Joe loved Polka dancing, flowers and family-get-togethers. Friend-get-togethers usually happened daily at the Wharton Dairy Queen and Whataburger. Dolores and Joe bought and owned the Hungerford Supermarket in 1967 through 1994. Due to the number of hours they spent working there, this had become a second home where time was spent with caring and loving customers which became true friends over the many years. As in Dolores’ words “We’ve met lots of people. I’ve enjoyed everyone who came through the door. Our customers became our friends.” In her last years Dolores enjoyed accompanying Linda and Jimmy to Ganado Mustang and El Campo Cotton Squares dances and events - where she then too met many loving friends. On Sunday, Nov 12, 2017, at the age of 82 Dolores peacefully was gently carried up on angel wings to God, her Heavenly Father. From her sweet smile just before her last breath, I believe she was lovingly met by many. Preceding her on her journey were: her parents Joe P & Rosalie Mikel and husband Joseph “Joe” F Hlavinka (2014) and a number of aunts, uncles & cousins. Dolores was survived by her children, Linda Hlavinka (friend Jimmy Tucker), Karen Ryman (Gary Lee) and Gary Joe Hlavinka (Irene) all of Hungerford and one sister Janet Gensler (Edward) of Wharton. Grandma Pat was blessed by five grandchildren and their spouses: Ashley Lucher (Jared), Amanda Kitzmiller (Cody), Lisa Steiner (Matt), Christopher Hlavinka (Korenna) and Cody Hlavinka (Sarah). Blessings continued with six great-grandchildren: Callie, Case & Colt Kitzmiller, Bailey Steiner, Emma Hlavinka and Leah Lucher. She and her beautiful smile and blue eyes will be missed dearly. Our beautiful loss is now Heaven’s gain of another sweet, loving, kind, gentle angel. Through her trust, faith and commitment to God and his gentle hands, she is now with Joe, which she missed so deeply since his departure and her many generations of family and friends. Visitation will be in Hungerford at St John’s Catholic Church starting Wednesday at 530pm with a Catholic Daughters Rosary recited at 7pm. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, November 16, 2017 at 10 am at St John’s Catholic Church led by Fr. Charles Dwomoh. The Rite of Committal and burial will be in St Johns Cemetery in Hungerford. The immediate family would like to thank all her family & friends for the many years and time spent with her. This also includes a special number of caring doctors, nurses, CNAs and other staff of Wharton Nursing & Rehab, Memorial Hermann Southwest, OakBend and Houston Hospice served by the El Campo office location. The family has asked in lieu of flowers, if you wish donations may be made to St John’s Catholic Church, Hungerford. Funeral services are under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home. Condolences for the Family can be left at whartonfuneralhome.com