Martha Julia Kocurek Cervenka

A life well-lived. Martha Kocurek was born to Rudolph and Julia Kocurek on April 5, 1930 in Granger, Texas at the outset of the great Depression. Throughout her youth she helped her family operate their grocery store and meat market along with her siblings Jerry, Lillian, Albin and Georgia. She was very close to all of them. In high school she was a cheerleader and volleyball player. In 1952 she married her high school sweetheart, Raymond Cervenka, upon his return from the Korean War, to whom she was devoted until his untimely passing in 1984. Together they raised four children who are forever indebted to their parents for any and all success they may enjoy.

After Raymond’s passing, Martha took over the successful operation of their family business and looked as always to her most important pillars of strength, her family and faith.

As a founding member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church she was an ever-present participant in services and active volunteer from its inception in 1963. Martha also had a great passion for serving others; she was a longtime member of the Charity Guild of Catholic Women, Catholic Daughters of the Americas and Lifeline Support Group.

Her later life was centered as always around the children, and later grandchildren, with whom she took many trips around the globe, enjoying various cultures, cuisines and landmarks. She loved to meet new people and loved spending time with all of her friends.

Anyone who knows Martha knows she loved almost every kind of food. Many waiters would remind us as closing time approached, so as not to rush her meal. All of those lucky enough to know her will remember her by the positive attitude and joy she possessed until the end.

Martha is survived by her children, Alan Cervenka and his wife Deborah, Gayle Snyder and her husband Barry, Pamela Overly and her husband Rusty and Diane Cervenka. She also has four grandchildren, Stephany, Raymond, and Carly Cervenka, and Robert Overly. She is also remembered by sisters-in-law Bettye Bartosh and May Belle Repa, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and countless friends.

The rosary and vigil will be on May 28 from 6 PM – 6:30 PM, with visitation from 6:30 PM - 8 PM at Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home 4525 Bissonnet St., Bellaire, TX 77401. The Mass of Christian Burial will be on May 29 at 9 AM at St. Michael's the Archangel, 1801 Sage Rd., Houston, TX 77056. The burial will be on May 30 at 1 PM at Granger City Cemetery, 18650 FM 971, Granger, TX 76530.

In lieu of flowers, we kindly welcome donations to Charity Guild of Catholic Women, 1203 Lovett Blvd. Houston, TX 77006 or The Alzheimer’s Association, 2909 W. Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77025.

The family would like to thank the exceptional caregivers at Clarewood House for the heartfelt friendship they shared with Martha and her entire family during the past f