Aunt Ethel was called home by our Savior on April 30, 2018. The oldest of six children of John Joseph and Annie Schank Trojanowski, she was born on January 26, 1926 in Houston’s “Old Sixth Ward” at 1806 Decatur Street. Her parents suffered severe loss during the Great Depression and moved to the ‘little farm’ on Mosley Rd., South Houston. At the age of 7 she attended the little brick school house to which she walked a little over 2 miles. A week after graduating from Pasadena High School (Class of ’43) she was employed with Houston Natural Gas (HNG) in the Service Department where she met Robert O’Neal (Bobby) Harris; they married on September 14, 1946. Bobby predeceased her, due to a heart attack, on August 12, 1970. She was employed as Secretary for Rettig’s/Borden Ice Cream, where she worked for 45 years and retired from there in March 1992.
Interests varied and she loved traveling to Europe, Mexico, Canada, Hawaii, and our U.S. She loved reading, researching family genealogy, and watching TV. The high point of her traveling was taking her mother (Mema) to visit relatives in Germany, and then to visit Mema’s mother’s birthplace at Ticha’, Czech-Republic; this behind the Iron Curtain; to meet many relatives. In 1997, she made her last trip to Poland.
Ethel and Bobby built their home in the Spring Branch-Memorial area (Riedel Estates) in 1952. A few years later they were founding members of St. Cecilia Catholic Church. Then she was a member of the Women’s Club, the Prime Timers and Catholic Daughters, Court Ave Maria #2001.
She is predeceased by her parents John T. Trojanowski and Annie Shank Trojanowski. Her brothers John K. Trojanowski and wife Willa, and Robert Trojanowski. Sister’s Ann Stone and husband Ben Stone; Doris M. Martin, Irene Choate and husband James of Shepherd, Texas. Nieces Roberta Choate, Connie, Dana Choate, Nephews Bill Choate, Kenneth Whittleman Sr. To keep her memory she leaves Brother-in-Law Lamar Martin, Sister-in-Law Katheryn Trojanowski, many nieces, nephews and friends.
Family will receive friends on Thursday, May 3, 2018 from 9:30 am until 10:30 am with the Rosary being recited at 9:45 am followed by the Funeral Mass at 10:30 am at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 11720 Joan of Arc Drive, Houston, Texas 77024. The graveside service will follow at Memorial Oaks Cemetery, 13001 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas 77079 with a reception immediately following at St. Cecilia Catholic Church.
Pallbearers will be her nephews Sean Torres, Andrew Torres, Javier Torres, John Trojanowski, Joseph Trojanowski, and Jimmy Trojanowski.
