Daris Thacker Wendland

Daris Thacker Wendland passed away on November 25th, 2013, in Austin. Daris was born on May 19th, 1931 in Washington D.C. to Ellen and Robert Thacker. An only child, she moved frequently with her parents to cities around the South as they sought jobs during the Depression. The family settled in Houston during WW II. Daris met her future husband, Patrick Wendland, on a blind date while she was a student at Lamar High School and he was at St. Thomas. Daris and Pat married shortly after high school. They had three daughters: Ellen (Kathi), Margaret (Peggy), and Linda. Peggy died at the age of one.

Daris was a wonderful mother and role model to her girls. As a young, stay-at-home mom, she was room mother, Scout leader, and volunteer volleyball and softball coach. She was the mother everyone at school knew (and who knew everyone at school). Since Catholic schools in the sixties did not have buses, she frequently drove Scouts and ball players around Houston, sometimes in the back of a pickup truck. She was one of the "go to" moms who could always be counted on to round up volunteers to drive, chaperone and bake cupcakes.

Daris was a golfer, water-skier, camper, and she loved Willie Nelson and kicker dancing. She and Pat enjoyed bicycling on the Galveston Seawall and taking impromptu driving trips. With their friends the Arnolds, Daris and Pat's family travelled each summer to Inks Lake State Park to water-ski and sleep under the stars. This tradition continued, even as their kids grew up and brought friends, spouses, grandchildren and an assortment of dogs to Inks Lake. The two families were at Inks Lake watching on a portable TV in 1969 as Neil Armstrong first set foot on the moon.

Daris returned to college and the workforce as her girls entered high school. She worked in the Junior League Outpatient Clinic at Texas Children's Hospital for several years. She loved working with children and families as well as the stimulating environment of the Medical Center. She began working for Catholic Charities of Houston in the late seventies, first in foster care, then becoming an adoption agency search consultant. She found her calling in this field, researching and locating birth parents and children given up for adoption, then acting as the middleman to ensure that all parties wanted the reunion and were prepared for it. As a search consultant, Daris worked with individuals and families, family court judges, and state records agencies. After retiring from Catholic Charities she continued contracting with Catholic Charities and adoption agencies around the state. Her services were sometimes requested by family judges who had worked with her in the past. As recently as last month, one of her former "adoptees" called to tell her how she had changed his life. Pat relayed the message to Daris, who was gravely ill. It brought a smile to her face.

Daris and Pat moved to Lakeway, Texas in 1989. They belonged to several golf groups and were active in community affairs there for over twenty years. Daris was a member of the informal Saturday morning breakfast group at Café Lago. This group raises funds each fall to provide food, presents and support to families in need during the holiday season. She and Pat traveled frequently and enjoyed their retirement tremendously. Daris loved to argue politics online, posting as "Texan" in her daughter's online forum. She continued her volunteer work at Seton Hospital and at the Lakeway Activity Center. As recently as April, Daris volunteered in the Health Center at Longhorn Village where she and Pat moved last fall.

Daris leaves behind her husband Pat; daughters Kathi Crawford of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and Linda Wendland of Austin; grandson Chris Crawford and his wife Julie of New Kensington, Pennsylvania; great-grandchildren Kirsten, Hannah and Kenny Crawford, also of New Kensington. Her passing leaves a hole in our hearts but we are glad that her suffering is over. Daris created a legacy of love, friendship and responsibility to one's fellow man. We will always remember that.

Thank you to the wonderful staff at Longhorn Village and Heart to Heart Hospice for providing loving, professional care to Daris and support to her family during this difficult time.

Mass, followed by a memorial reception, will be held at Emmaus Catholic Church, Lakeway, on Tuesday, December 3rd, 11am. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Sandy Nees, Treasurer, Saturday Morning Breakfast Group, PO Box 90364, Austin 78709.