Anselma "Selma" Marie (Felderhoff) Wright

Selma was the twelfth of twelve children, born to the late John Henry and Helena “Lena” (Hesse) Felderhoff. Selma grew up on the family farm north of Muenster, TX until her family moved to town after her father died in 1950. Selma attended Catholic school in Muenster, where she resided until graduating from Sacred Heart High School as Valedictorian. Selma’s favorite subjects were Math and Latin, and she was fiercely proud of her German heritage and large Catholic family.

After high school graduation, Selma moved to Dallas, TX and enrolled at St. Paul’s Nursing School, having been awarded a scholarship to study there. She graduated and began her career as a Registered Nurse in Dallas. Shortly thereafter, Selma met John Wright at a Catholic Young Singles event. They fell in love and were married in Dallas on June 15, 1957. They had four daughters, Renee, Colleen, Janet, and Elaine, within their first six years, and moved 14 times throughout the course of their marriage in support of John’s banking career. Regardless of where they lived, Selma managed the house, children and entertaining. She learned how to play bridge and tennis and made sure that John knew how to play as well, so that they could play with other couples on the weekends. With each new city, Selma quickly met neighbors, joined bridge clubs and played on tennis teams with people that became friends for life.

Selma never wanted to own a house that was too big for her to care for on her own. She told friends who suggested she hire a housekeeper, “Oh, I don’t need to do that. I have four daughters!” And on Saturday mornings, each daughter awoke to find which cleaning task was her responsibility for the day. Selma scrubbed, swept and vacuumed and ensured that her daughters did as well.

Selma was a great wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She sewed clothes for her daughters and herself, was adept at using coupons and could find the best deal for anything. Selma never passed up a penny that she found on the ground. You never knew when you’d need one. She wrote letters to her daughters while they were at college and never sent a greeting card without including a personal sentiment inside.

Selma was famous for her motivational sayings, belief in the Serenity Prayer, and conviction that success does not come without hard work. She was committed to her Catholic faith and volunteered at her church as a Eucharistic Minister and in the Altar Society, at Hotel Dieu hospital in El Paso, for Meals on Wheels, as a Red Cross driver in Grand Prairie, and at the schools where her daughters attended. She had a good spirit and remained thankful and polite to those who helped her, even in her later years.

Most people will remember Selma for her kindness and gifted sense of humor. She had perfect timing as the straight person for John’s jokes, and she had an infectious smile and laugh. Selma and John often hosted dinner parties, filling their home with love, laughter, good food, and great cocktails. As Selma’s children were married and had children of their own, she crocheted a baby blanket for each of her nine grandchildren. Selma loved her family and was the catalyst to two amazing big family trips, a cruise to Alaska and a vacation in Hawaii, hosted by her and John that their daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren will never forget.

During 66 years of marriage before John predeceased her in 2024, Selma dedicated her life to making a warm and nurturing home. She loved putting together puzzles, playing dominoes, and doing the daily bridge hand in the newspaper. Selma will be remembered for always having something delicious to eat in the kitchen, whether it was little tuna sandwiches, rice Krispie treats, breakfast tacos, donuts, cream puffs, or sweets in the candy drawer. In particular, during San Antonio visits, her grandchildren always looked forward to Totino’s pizza and Eggo waffles at Grandma’s!

It is difficult to capture Selma’s essence. Selma was always the spark to a project. She was the person who was called to get something done and to get it done right. After marrying John, she not only loved her husband, but also her new last name, “Wright”. A good friend gave Selma a refrigerator magnet that Selma quickly put on display that said, “Mrs. Always Wright”. The magnet and the name gave an inkling to Selma’s ability to wink at herself.

Selma is survived by her daughters: Renee (Ken) Cihacek, Colleen (Jake) Dean, Janet (Tom) Lusk, and Elaine (Michael) Kasper; her grandchildren: Kathryn (Anthony) Backman, Julie Cihacek, John (Elizabeth) Cihacek, Robert Dean, Madeline Dean, Diane (Blake) Richard, Jenna Lusk, Lauren Kasper, and Annamarie Kasper; and her great-grandchildren: Logan, Gracie, Beckett, Liam, and Jack, as well as her sister, Celine Schrage of Salinas, CA.

Selma was predeceased by her husband, John, as well as her parents, and siblings: Frank, Rita, Lawrence, Vincent, Alphonse “Al”, Henry, Leo, Emma, Philomena “Phil”, and Agnes.

The family thanks Selma’s dedicated private caregivers, Dolores, Irma, and Desiree, as well as staff at Selma’s retirement community, Alicia, Bettie, Cheyenne, Claudia, Edna, Josie, Patricia, Rich, Robin, Roxy, and Stephanie. Your compassion and care made a positive difference in Selma’s life and provided comfort to her family as well, especially during her final weeks. Additionally, the family expresses sincere gratitude to all relatives and friends for the kindness, support, and prayers they provided Selma and her family during this difficult time.

A Rosary (10:30 a.m.) and Mass of Celebration (11:00 a.m.) for Selma’s life will be at St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church, San Antonio, TX on January 27, 2026. The family will have a private interment at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

In Selma’s honor, please call or spend time with a senior family member or friend, or you may make a memorial donation to St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church, 102 Lorenz Road, San Antonio, TX 78209 or Meals on Wheels.