Jo Marie Smolik Prasek

1926 – 2017

Our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend to many, passed away peacefully Sunday, February 26, 2017 in Houston, Tx. Jo Marie was the first child born to John and Josephine Smolik in Hallettsville, Tx on October 27, 1926.

She is survived by her daughters Judy Piper (Timothy), Patricia Kettler (Dalton) and Janice Marie Brown. Also sister Audrey Smolik, brothers John Smolik (Carolyn), David Smolik (Joyce), brother-in-law Paul Prasek (Jan), five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and eleven nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by her husband Daniel Prasek, her son Donald Lee Prasek, her parents and her infant brother Donald Smolik. She attended Sacred Heart Catholic School, graduated from Hallettsville High School where she was the first drum majorette of the marching band and voted most beautiful her senior year. She also attended Massey Business School in Houston, Tx.

Jo Marie married Daniel Prasek, also from Hallettsville, Tx on May 1st, 1945. They had seventy wonderful years together until his death September 15, 2015. They lived and raised their four children in Oak Forest, Houston, Tx. After her children left home she enjoyed a ten year career at HL&P, Wilsons and AIS. They retired to Columbus, Tx in 2001 to enjoy a quieter country life.

Jo had the most beautiful silver hair and always dressed fashionably. She loved to cook, sew, quilt, garden and read, especially political books and watch her game shows, especially Jeopardy. She was active in Girl and Boy Scout Troops, Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church and the Altar Society of Saint Ambrose Church. She especially liked spending time with her five grandchildren as she loved them very much, as they did her.

She had recently moved into a Senior Independent Living community in Houston to be near her daughters. She was thoroughly enjoying this new phase of her life, meeting new people and doing new things.

She enjoyed good health until a week ago when she unexpectedly became ill. We are all heart-broken. She was much-loved and will be missed by all. The family takes comfort that she will be celebrating her 72nd Wedding Anniversary with her husband Dan, the love of her life, in Heaven on May 1st. She missed him very much.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11AM Saturday, March 11, 2017 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hallettsville, Tx. Friends and Family are cordially invited to a reception luncheon to celebrate Jo Marie's life at Sacred Heart Parish Community Center. The family will gather for a private interment at Sacred Heart Cemetery.

In remembrance of Jo Marie you may wish to donate to the Sacred Heart Catholic School Library in Hallettsville, Texas or lymphoma.org for Cancer Research. You may also leave a remembrance online at: www.kleinfh.com