Florence Rosie Vinklarek, Wife, Momma, Grandma, and Mum Mum, was born in Koschisko, TX on August 30, 1930 and moved to McCook, TX as a young child. While the family worked the land, she would be at home caring for her baby brother Ernest.
She graduated from Edinburg High School in 1948.
She met Willie Vinklarek at their cousins wedding in McCook, TX. She married Willie on August 28, 1951. They first resided in a garage apartment in the Heights area of Houston. Her first job was to nanny for a young family. Soon thereafter, they moved to their present home, having started a family of their own.
Florence was a long time and very active member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church, a Cub Scout leader, and worked at Sheli’s Surf Shop. She enjoyed sewing for all of her children. She was known to make her own patterns. At Easter she and her daughters wore matching dresses. She thoroughly enjoyed her time “relaxing and playing” in her flower beds. She definitely had a green thumb.
As a mother of 8 and a homemaker, she passed all those fun daily activities onto her children to become self sufficient. Her children were her life. They were very involved in outside activities which kept her busy being the family chauffeur and she took every opportunity to attend each of her children’s events. After Willie passed away in 2002, her children took her under their wings and kept her busy with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Florence was a sweet, loving lady. She had compassion for those around her and those who knocked at her door.
Florence is survived by her children, Jerry (Lyla), Pauline McGrail (Pat), William (Brenda), Virgil (Lisa), Elaine Vinklarek, Helen Orsak, Christine Feagin (Bobby), and Teresa Kotzur (Mike); 16 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; brother Vincent Keller; and sister Christine Prukop.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband William “Willie” Vinklarek; son-in-laws Mark Orsak and John Della Sala; granddaughter Jennifer Blythe Vinklarek; brother Ernest Keller and sister Proxey Prukop.
Visitation will be on Friday, December 7, 2018 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a Rosary Vigil Service at 7:00 PM at Pat H. Foley & Company, 1200 West 34th St., Houston, TX. A Catholic Funeral Mass will be on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 10:00 AM at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 4213 Mangum Road, Houston, TX. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery, 1101 Antoine, Houston, 77055.
Pall Bearers are: Jeremy Vinklarek, Chris Della Sala, Cody Feagin, Michael Orsak, Charles Wooten, Brandon Hanson, Patrick Bohn, Kelly Tucker, Trevor Belicek, and Jake Burks.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Ambose Catholic Church in memory of Florence Vinklarek.
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