Jeanette Jenschke Pawelek

December 8, 1939 – January 26, 2021

Jeanette Jenschke Pawelek, age 81, passed away on January 26, 2021 in Houston, Texas.

She was born Jeanette Marie Jenschke on December 8, 1939 in Fredericksburg, Texas to Leo Christian Jenschke and Helen Kunz Jenschke. She was raised in Kerrville, Texas. She attended Notre Dame Catholic School through eighth grade before graduating from Tivy High School in 1958. She was awarded the Eagle of the Cross Award at the annual Council of Catholic Youth Convention at Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, Texas. She was selected as one of five outstanding youth of the Archdiocese of San Antonio for her work.

Upon graduation, Jeanette moved to Austin, Texas and graduated from Nixon-Clay Commercial College. Jeanette met the love of her life, Alfred Emmit Pawelek, of Falls City, Texas, while on a blind date. Six months later they were engaged! Alfred and Jeanette were married on October 1, 1960 in Kerrville. Through Alfred's job, life took the young family from Austin to Dallas, until they ultimately settled in Houston in 1968. Along the way, Jeanette was a devoted wife and mother to five wonderful children and ten amazing grandchildren.

Jeanette loved her family fiercely and was a friend to all. She was a master homemaker with a love for family, flower gardening, sewing, handwork, playing in the water and baking. Christmas was her favorite holiday! There were always cookies in the freezer to share, and if luck was on your side, you even found the hidden ones! Once her children were older, she worked as a Library Aide for 20 years at two local elementary campuses in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD before retiring in 1999. Upon retirement she devoted her time and energy to Alfred, her children and grandchildren by attending as many of their events as she could. In addition, she became very active in St. Jerome Catholic Church and the Catholic Daughters of America. She also loved to travel, and once the plans were made, she was the first one in the car with her maps and highlighters to mark the progression of the trip along the way!

She is survived by her loving husband Alfred of 60 years; daughter Sandra Pawelek Hoppe (Kenneth) of Houston, and their children, Nathan (Laura) and Nicole; son Alfred "Al" Emmit Pawelek, Jr. of Joshua, and his child, Alfred III "Trace"; son Timothy "Tim" Leo Pawelek of Houston, and his children, Ryan and Leah; daughter Brenda Marie Pawelek of Boise, and her children, Lauren, Alexandra, Katherine and Michael Fitzgerald; daughter Cynthia Pawelek Hogan (Danny) of Cypress, and their child, John Daniel. Her surviving sibling is sister Barbara Jenschke of Austin, and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Jeanette is preceded in death by her parents, infant brother Patrick Walter Jenschke and brother Leo Robert "Bobby" Jenschke, Jr.

The Holy Rosary will be recited on Monday, February 1, 2021 at 9:15 am at St. Jerome Catholic Church in Houston. Following the Rosary, a Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:00 am. Interment will follow in Kerrville, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Jeanette's name to St. Jerome Catholic Church or St. Jerome Catholic Daughters of America, Court Ava Maria #2001. Please send all memorial donations to Sandra Hoppe, 12027 Gardenglen Drive, Houston, Texas 77070.