Memorials › Elizabeth Agnes "Betty" Patek Kocian
Elizabeth Agnes "Betty" Patek Kocian
7 Mar 1926 – 14 Jan 2025
| Birth | 7 Mar 1926 |
| Death | 14 Jan 2025 |
| Cemetery | Saints Cyril and Methodius Catholic Cemetery Shiner , Lavaca County , Texas , USA |
| Added by | Beau on 13 Nov 2010 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/61551126 |
Bio
SHINER: Elizabeth Agnes (Patek) Kocian, 98, joined her heavenly family on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. She was born March 7, 1926 in Shiner to Charles and Elizabeth (Viet) Patek. "Betty" as most people knew her, was a lifelong member of Sts. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church and attended St. Ludmila's Academy until graduation. She attended St. Joseph's School of Nursing in Houston to further her education. During this time, she also worked on airplane wings during the World War II "Rosie the Riveter" campaign. On February 4, 1947, Betty married Benedict G. Kocian Sr. They made their home in Shiner, and were blessed with eight children, 18 grandchildren, and 27 great-grandchildren, whom they loved and cherished. Betty was a self-reliant, strong-willed nature but very loving and caring. She was member of KJZT, VFW Auxiliary and American Legion Auxiliary. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and was strongly devoted to God and her Catholic faith, with daily prayers, especially daily rosary devotions. Betty was resourceful and lived by "If there's a will, there's a way" attitude which served her well throughout her lifetime. She was an excellent seamstress, sewing her children's clothes sometimes even without a pattern, and had a gift of how to wallpaper her home and do home repairs long before YouTube, Google, or AI. Highlights in her life were when she would host beautiful celebrations for her beloved family each Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, which included a feast of delicious foods and her most delectable kolaches, braided breads and cheese rolls. Large family gatherings, Czech conversations, and polka music were dear to her heart. Betty enjoyed trips to Las Vegas, flying to Chicago, attending her granddaughter Brenda's graduation from the Navy, and witnessing her granddaughter, Amanda, get married in Hawaii. Her favorite pastimes were working in her beautiful yard and playing bingo and dominoes with family and friends. Her early nursing school experiences equipped her to care for her parents, work with home health patients, nursing homes, and eventually her ailing husband. After relocating to the Shiner Nursing Home as a resident, she found many ways to care for her friends and staff whom she had come to love. She is survived by her sons, Patrick Kocian (Debbie) of LaGrange, and Robert Kocian of Sandia; daughters, Carolyn Hewig of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Marilyn Jahn (Daniel), Rose Ann Raab (Allen), all of Shiner, and Pam O'Connor (Scott) of Richmond; son-in-law, Michael Miculka; daughter-in-law, Cynthia Mayer Kocian; 16 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren; brother, Dennis Patek (Mary); sisters-in-law, Mary Jane Patek (August), and Beatrice Patek (Rudy); numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Elizabeth Patek; her beloved husband of 55 years, Ben Kocian Sr.; son, Ben Kocian Jr., daughter, Betty Jean Miculka; grandsons, Dale Kocian and Michael Kocian; sister, Helen Matula; brothers, Victor Patek, Charles Patek Jr., August Patek, and Rudy Patek. Visitation 4 p.m. with Rosary to be recited at 6 p.m., Thursday, January 23, 2025, at Thiele Cooper Funeral Home. Funeral Mass 1 p.m., Friday, January 24, 2025, at Sts. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church with Rev. Bryan Heyer officiating. Burial to follow at Shiner Catholic Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hospice of South Texas or Sts. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church. Arrangements by Thiele-Cooper Funeral Home, 361-293-5656.
Inscription
KOCIAN Ben G. July 11, 1920 Sept. 26, 2002 Betty A. Mar. 7, 1926 Married Feb 4, 1947 Children Betty Jean, Ben Jr., Patrick, Carolyn, Marilyn, Rose Ann, Robert & Pam
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