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Emelie Haverda Billimek peacefully entered eternal life with Our Lord, her loving family by her side, on June 5, 2017, 8 days after celebrating her 99th birthday. She was born May 28, 1918, in Shiner , TX, the 8th child of 13 children born to John and Mary Farda Havrda. The family eventually moved to Velehrad, TX to farm the land and sell milk to the Carnation plant in Schulenburg. Emelie helped her Momma care for her younger siblings, and was known as “our second Mom” to James, Frank and Benny. Around the age of 5, she helped with cooking and baking, learning by standing on a chair next to the wood stove. Anyone who ever had a meal Mom cooked or dessert Mom made were in taste-bud heaven. Her kolaches – prune, poppyseed, and cheese – were the best. Mom learned from the best – her Momma. Emelie was a dedicated and hard worker all her life, and made lasting friendships wherever she went. She loved to dance polkas and waltzes, especially the “Blue Skirt Waltz,” with Ewald Billimek of High Hill, TX. They married on January 11, 1941, in St. John, TX, and remained dedicated to each other for 62 years until Ewald was called home to Heaven on September 20, 2003. Mom was a member of St. Brigid Catholic Church, and St. John Berchmans Catholic Church. Her devotion to Jesus Christ and Our Mother Mary was strong each day of her life. In spite of her progressive debilitation, pain, and health deterioration, her strong spirit and tenacity helped her continue watching over her siblings – something she promised her mother she would do. She kept her promise – she was the last of the 13 children to finally go home to join her parents, John and Mary Havrda; brothers, Joe, Albert, Leo, John, Robert, James, Frank, Benny; sisters, Mary Krause, Rosie, Annie Petrash, and Josie Blaschke Brezina; grandparents, Martin and Viktoria Farda; and great-grandmother Terezia Vrba. Emelie is survived by her sons, Tom (Sharon), and Larry (Jill), and daughters, Barbara, and Loretta (Jim) Smith; grandsons, Joey (Cheri) Kempf, Larry (Amy) Billimek, John (Donna) Billimek, Jeff (Jennifer) Billimek, and Kris (Alyson) Whitener; granddaughters, Susan Billimek, Kim Smith (Mike Mitchell), and Sarah (Adam) Kujawa; great-grandsons, Jacob Kempf, Tucker Billimek, Callum Billimek, and Wyatt Billimek; great-granddaughters, Lily Billimek, Ansley Billimek, Brinley Billimek, and Riley Rose Billimek; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Haverda and Rose Marie Billimek; brother-in-law, Leon Billimek; numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. The family would like to thank her “special angels” who provided exceptional care and unwavering love to Mom through her Journey: April Wagner and Jackie Jennings; N’reen Thomas, Mary Esther Cisneros, Shawnte Duke, Maria Follett, Maria Campos, Lula Sweat, and many others from Home Instead Senior Care, Grace Hospice, and VPA. SERVICES Visitation will be held from 6:00 – 9:00 PM on Sunday, June 11, 2017 at Mission Park Funeral Chapels North with a Rosary to begin at 7:00 PM. Mass of the Resurrection will held at 12:00 PM on Monday, June 12, 2017 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in High Hill, TX with interment to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

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Emelia H. Billimek

May 28, 1918 - June 5, 2017