Lillie Emily Tekansik Ponikvar

Born of immigrant Slovenian parents, Lillie Emily Tekansik began life on April 16, 1921, in Leadville, Colorado. As a child of a hardworking housewife mother and a miner father, life was difficult for Lillie and her 14 siblings. When her father was suddenly killed in a mining accident, Lillie was forced to begin work at a very young age to help support the family. She worked tirelessly at the only job she could find at the time---being a bartender at a local dance hall and saloon where she relied heavily on her determination, strength, love for family, and strong work ethics to survive and find happiness.

When the Great Depression hit, Lillie not only worked at the dance hall, but she also began work at the Climax Molybdenum mine doing difficult jobs left vacant by soldiers off at war. Again, her hard work, determination, and strength carried her through a job few could and did survive.

It was not all work for Lillie. She could dance for hours to a good old polka played energetically on an accordion. It was at one of the late night dances that she would meet the love of her life, Anton “Tony” Ponikvar, and on September 10, 1947, Tony and Lillie were married. As a result, Lillie gave up her jobs to become a full-time mother and housewife.

They began their life together in Leadville, Colorado, where they built their home and had two daughters, Nellie Ann and Lillie Marie. In 1961, a job transfer forced Tony, Lillie and “girls” to move to El Paso, Texas, where they would celebrate 54 years of marriage until “Tony’s” death in 2001.

Besides her passion to protect and nurture her family, Lillie loved sewing and was a professional seamstress. She loved all kinds of crafts, most notably crocheting, which is evident when one walks into her home filled with crochet on each piece of furniture and handmade blankets lying on chairs and couches. Her favorite form of recreation was accepting an invitation from one of her many lady friends to a game of BINGO. Finally, she loved her precious Pomeranians, one of which was close by her side until the very end.

Lillie is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Anton Ponikvar; her brothers and sisters, most notably Nellie Kostelic and Frances King. She is survived by her three daughters Nellie Ann Ponikvar, Lillie Marie Ponikvar, and Willie Tinnin; her niece Emily Mae King; her niece Lillie Avi and her children Daniel, Dennis, and Sally; her niece JoAnn Birsa and her three daughters Leona, Margie, and Vicki.

Lillie’s family would like to thank the many friends who have supported us through these very difficult times. Special thanks to Katy Jensen, Mama’s best friend and neighbor for over 50 years. We would also like to thank all of the caregivers who cared for “little Mama” with the same love, loyalty, determination and strength that kept her on this earth longer than anyone thought possible, most especially Sally Alarcon, our angel from heaven. Additionally, we also want to thank caregivers Angie Witcher, Lucy Brown, and Julieta Perez, as well as her nurse Janie Fulkerson, Cloudview Healthcare, Country Club Medical, and Dr. Edward Assi, Dr. George Halow, and Dr. Dorothy Gault. Pallbearers will be Fred Avi, Danny Zadra, Jose Alarcon, Don Rominsky, Jimmy Olivas, Lazaro Porras.

Rest in Peace, Little Mama, for the suffering has ceased and you are free to fly with the angels and touch the face of God. Give Daddy a big hug for us.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 28, 2011 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a Rosary at 6:00 PM at Martin Funeral Home West. Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, July 29, 2011 at 10:30 AM at St. Patrick Cathedral, 1118 N. Mesa St. Interment to follow at Memory Gardens of the Valley Cemetery, 4900 McNutt Road. Services entrusted to Martin Funeral Home West, 128 N. Resler Dr., El Paso, Texas, 79912. www.MartinFuneralHomeWest.com