Frances Josephine Sekula Kotara

Frances Sekula Kotara, beautiful woman, loving mother and devoted wife, passed away on Sunday, June 17, 2012 at the age of 85 after a 3 1/2 year battle with kidney failure and dialysis. Frances was born on January 24, 1927 in Kosciusko, Texas, and attended St. Anne's Catholic School until moving to Mc Cook, Texas, with her family. Frances met her best friend and sweetheart, Wency Kotara, at a relatives' wedding and they were later married on May 20, 1947 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Mission, Texas. They just celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Frances was preceded in death by her parents Edward and Barbara Sekula, her brother Tom Sekula, and sisters Mary Kotzur, Elizabeth Kotzur, Irene Skloss and Magdalen Bledsoe. She is survived by her husband Wency Kotara and their six children, Glenn Kotara (Karin) of Bend, Oregon, Paula Carley (Kirk) of St. Hedwig, Texas, Gerald Kotara (Dolores) of Plano, Texas, Lynda Stansberry (Herb) of San Antonio, TX, Rebecca Richardson (Troy) of Rancho Mirage, CA, and Melissa Rodriguez (Marty) of Irvine, CA. She was so proud of her 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Frances was a devoted Catholic, member of the St. John Neumann Church Choir, the Perpetual Adoration Society, the Altar Society and the Divine Mercy Group. She will be remembered by all who knew and loved her as an excellent cook and baker; pecan pies and cinnamon rolls were her specialty and were in great demand. Frances also loved to travel, gamble at Las Vegas and Cushatta and adored shopping which was demonstrated by the stunning fashion in which she always dressed. While she was a striking woman on the outside, she was even more beautiful on the inside. The family will receive friends at St. John Neumann Catholic Church from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 with a rosary recited at 7:00 P.M. The funeral Mass will be at St. John Neumann Catholic Church on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. Interment to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that any gift be in the form of Mass intentions in her name.