Mary Vavra

Mary Vavra, age 92, of Wharton, passed away on Saturday, May 31, 2008 following a brief illness. She was born on Oct. 20, 1915 in Sealy, the daughter of the late Valentin Martin Pawlak and Mary Novicke Pawlak.

Mrs. Vavra was a longtime resident of Wharton and was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Wharton. She worked at Mary's Dress Shop as a seamstress and also stayed home raising her children. Mrs. Vavra married Frank Bill Vavra on Oct. 21, 1936 in Sealy, and he preceded her in death on Nov. 8, 1992. She enjoyed sewing, working in the yard, flowers, fruit trees, fishing and gardening.

A rosary was held on Monday, June 2, 2008 at the chapel of Wharton Funeral Home with Deacon Alvin Matthys officiating. Funeral Mass was held on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at 1 p.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church with Rev. Bryan Heyer officiating. Burial followed in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery in Wharton.

Survivors include her daughters, Pat Wilson and husband Gerald of Wharton and Laura Ann Scherer and husband Vic of Cypress; sister, Victoria Cataldo of Houston; sisters-in-law, Flora Lea Pawlak of Rosenberg and Helen Willis of Houston; brother in-law, Louis Vavra and wife Faye of Brenham; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were her grandsons, Scott Scherer, Gregg Scherer, Jeff Scherer, Stuart Wilson, Ronald Wilson and Sheldon Wilson.

Funeral services are under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home.