Margaret Catherine Weber Bastian

Margaret Catherine Theresa Weber Bastian died peacefully in her home in Austin, Texas on Sunday, December 16, 2012. She passed from loving arms on earth to the loving arms of God, with the love of family and friends all around.

Margaret was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on June 25, 1928 to Joseph Francis Weber and Mae Simoneaux Weber. As a career military wife, she lived in Germany, Korea, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Texas, and Georgia.

She was preceded in death by her Mother, Father, husband Colonel John Aloysius Bastian III, and infant children Christopher (1951, New Orleans) and Anne (1963, Fort Sill Oklahoma).

She is survived by her sister Betty Jane Joachim of New Orleans; children Robert Bastian and wife Glenda Erp Bastian of San Antonio, their sons Robert Jr., Christopher, Jonathan and Curtis; Catherine Harrington and husband Mark of Austin, their daughter Christine Czetwertynski and husband Alex, and son Keith; Michael Bastian and wife Jill Shaver Bastian of Houston, their children Jeremy, Jessica, Jason and Jonathan; Tricia Engstrom and husband Lars of New York and their Honey Bear; Susanne Marco and husband Chris of San Antonio, their children Madison, Christopher, Julia and John; John Bastian and wife Amy Lyons Bastian of Stevensville, MD, their sons Sean, Brendan, Matthew and Colin. Nieces Sharon McDowell, Donna Fugate, and nephew Charles Joachim. Great-grandchildren Morighan Smith, Cassia Czetwertynski and Baby Czetwertynski due June 2013.

Margaret attended St. Stephen’s High School and graduated Loyola University in New Orleans May 31, 1949. She married the love of her life, John Bastian, eleven days later. They were married 55 years.

Margaret was a medical technologist at the Board of Health in the 1950’s. In 1961, John became an active Army officer and Margaret’s life as an Army wife began. She was an inquisitive student of the world, and shared her love of learning with her children. Margaret had a kind heart, keen wit, et une certaine, comment dire, joie de vie.

Later, she pursued her passion for the written word, earning her Master of Arts in English from Incarnate Word College in San Antonio in 1977. Thus began her long and much-loved career as a High School and College English Professor. Margaret loved to read, write, travel and discuss ideas. She loved Book Group, authors and professors all. Margaret treasured her friends in Our Lady of Perpetual Help's Small Group. She was an elegant, gracious lady, loved by all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.

A Catholic funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, January 12th at 2:00p.m. at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church 4311 Small Drive, Austin Texas 78731. Family and friends will gather immediately following Mass at the Summit NW Hills, 5715 Mesa Drive Austin Texas 78731.

Margaret will be laid to rest with her husband at the Bastian family tomb in Metairie Lake Lawn Cemetery in New Orleans, Louisiana.

In lieu of flowers, we invite family and friends to make donations to the Lewy Body Dementia Association either online at [email protected], by calling 404-935-6444 ext. 100, or by mail to Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road, S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047.

Heartfelt thanks to her loving caregivers Nancy Drew and Christiane Fellows, her physicians and Odyssey Hospice team, NW Hills Pharmacy, and our friends at The Summit NW Hills. Thank you, “Team Margaret” for caring and loving our Mother as if she were your own. You blessed Margaret and our family immeasurably.