A visitation for family and friends will be held on Saturday, November 30th, at 12 p.m. at Earthman Baytown Funeral Home, 3919 Garth Rd in Baytown, with a Memorial Service to follow at 1 p.m. Following the service, she will be laid to rest beside her husband at Palms Memorial Park at 2421 Hwy 146 South of Dayton.
Rosa Lee Hanel was born on March 28, 1931, in Cameron, Texas, the third of four daughters to Oscar and Bertha Schlemmer Hanel. She was a 1951 graduate of Dayton High School. She married Alvin H. Soileau on December 14, 1952. In early marriage, they lived in Freeport and Clute before Alvin's career in law enforcement brought them to Baytown in 1960. Rosa was a homemaker by profession, and was active in the Baytown Police Wives Club while raising her children. In later life, she was active in the Lee College Seniors Group and the Red Hat Society of Baytown. She is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Kristi and Billy Ritchey of Baytown, son and daughter-in-law Keith and Mary Ann Soileau of Mont Belvieu, grandchildren Christopher Foster of Houston, Joshua Soileau and wife Angela of Houston, and Annie Branch and husband Jonathan of Deer Park, great-grandchildren Miranda Soileau, Logan Soileau and Rebecca Branch, sister and brother-in-law Margie and Mike Ripkowski of Dayton, and nieces and nephews Stephen Wehring and wife Vicki of Dripping Springs, and Gary Ripkowski and wife Karrie of Frisco, and Robert Ripkowski and wife Amy of Dayton. She was preceded in death by her husband Alvin Soileau in 1994, parents Oscar and Bertha Hanel, and sisters Helen Wehring and Theresa Bennett. Serving as Pallbearers will be: Billy Ritchey, Christopher Foster, Joshua Soileau, Jonathan Branch, Gary Ripkowski, and Robert Ripkowski.
