Katherine Louise Kopeck

She was a great cook. She had the best fried chicken, and German chocolate cake and she could make peanut brittle like no one else. Her best was divinity every Christmas. She also loved her crafts like ceramics and her beautiful Easter baskets she made. She always loved to be busy. She loved cleaning her apartment, sitting in her chair outside, going to her bingo and monthly luncheons at the bank.

She was a strong woman. She was born one of 8 children, lost her mother at an early age, had to quit school to help raise the younger siblings. She met my dad at a dance and they married shortly after in Chappell Hill, TX on June 22, 1941. They stayed a short time there and then moved to the big city of Houston. Their oldest child, Billie, was a toddler and my dad went to work at Wyatt Industries as a welder until his job was terminated because he had developed diabetes. He also worked as a bartender at the old Polish Hall on 6th and White Oak. A second son born 3 years later, Clarence, also nicknamed, Butch. and 5 years later, there was me. They lived in a duplex on Algregg street, then bought a house on Tulane where they lived until 1975. Then they bought them a house on Temple and it was their residence until 1996. What wonderful neighbors mom and dad had there, Phillip and David and Linda and Kathy who watched over them so close. Dad became unemployed and mom stepped in and got a job at Foley's where she had a long career in Marking and Receiving for 26 years. She and dad retired when they were 61 and mom especially loved to begin to travel. She went on several cruises, gambling trips, and many day trips, just ask her to go and she could be ready in a few minutes. She belonged to the Altar Society at All Saints, Catholic Daughters, Heights Women's Club, and the Spry club at her bank. It never bothered her that dad didn't want to travel because she was always willing to go. Dad passed away in 1993 and mom stayed in their house on Temple for several years but then decided she was ready to downsize and moved to 800 Heights where she has resided until her death. And what a great move it was for her to be blessed and taken care of by so many wonderful friends all around her. She loved all her neighbors and friends around her. I cannot even begin to say how much I appreciated all of her wonderful neighbors there. Each of you would visit and she absolutely loved each and every one of you. I always said mom had more friends than me! Mom, she was loved by so many people. When she retired from Foley's I gave her a gift of driving lessons, she tried it once and said please don't ask me to ever go back. She never drove but had plenty of kind friends to assist. She would ride Metro to go meet her sister at Memorial City, to store and other places. Kind and giving hearts and I appreciate each one of you and all you did for my mom and the special time you shared with her. Mom recently lost her sole surviving sister, Stephanie who was her best friend and it broke her heart she could not attend services for her, mom loved her dearly. She is also survived by her daughter in law, Jeanne Kopeck and special niece, Stella Walters and husband, Royce who took such good care of her and granddaughter Anita Koger and Fiance Chuck Egbert who assisted me so much during her illness. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren who loved her very much and was always proud of them. Such a great woman was she. What a woman!

Mom will be missed and we will all mourn her because of how she affected each of our lives but I always think when someone dies their legacy should keep going. Don't just dwell on your sad thoughts of missing her but think of how she made you laugh and the strength she showed in whatever she did. Talk about her to each other and do kind things for each other. Yes she is gone and we will all miss her but her memory is in our hearts and we all need to carry that on. Always remember What a woman she was!!