Cecilia Zbranek Stefek, 88, of Granger, went to be with Our Lord early Saturday morning, Jan. 29, 2022.
She was born Oct. 16, 1933, in Walburg, to Frank J. Zbranek and Mary (David) Zbranek.
On Nov. 17, 1952, she married the love of her life John Adolf Stefek, where they enjoyed 65 years of marriage up until his death in 2018. Together they raised one wonderful son and three precious daughters.
Cecilia was a housewife and avid seamstress most of her life. In 1973, she started out sewing at Kitchen’s Sewing Factory in Taylor and worked her way up to a floor walker. In the mid 70s she was employed at Relax Apparel as a supervisor.
In 1979, she was co-owner of Ca-Ce-Len Manufacturing Company in Granger, where they made clothes for JC Penney’s and Dallas area companies. She then retired in 1985 to help care for her grandkids.
Once she retired, she served on the church committee and eventually took over the Holy Cross Cemetery burial plot for loved ones. She continued this for quite a few years prior to 2021.
Cecilia was very well known for her beautiful and delicious meringue pies that we all looked forward to at family functions. She made desserts for charitable events resulting in generous contributions. She loved cooking for her family and friends, especially her awesome desserts and cannot forget her famous homemade canned sweet pickles. Besides going to Bingo on Sundays, she loved playing a great domino game called Chicken Foot with her family. During this past Thanksgiving holiday, Cecilia was able to play almost 12 consecutive games just prior to her illness.
She and John loved their precious trips to Louisiana, winning or losing a little money with their close friends. Over their years together, John and Cecilia would periodically “shake a leg” with special friends listening to the good ole’ Czech music. Often you walked into her home with the sound of Czech music listening to Michael Craig on the Rockdale Station.
Cecilia was known to her grandkids as grandma and Mema. She answered to both and thoroughly enjoyed having all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren around and cherished an occasional Sunday Church Bingo with them and her family.
She was a longtime member of Saints Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Granger and a member of the KJZT.
Cecilia was preceded in death by her spouse, John A. Stefek; her parents, Frank J. Zbranek and Mary (David) Zbranek; brother, Frank Zbranek; brothers-in-law, Johnny Zak, Willard Thaler, Joe E., Emil, Bill, Victor and Jim Stefek, Jerry Strmiska and Clifford Schwertner; sisters-in-law, Mary Ann Strmiska, Lillian Schwertner, Martha Vrana Stefek, Mildred Stefek, Margie Stefek and Helen Stefek.
Those left to cherish her memory include her son, Larry Stefek and wife Janie of Granger; daughters, Carolyn Manders and husband Nick of Pflugerville, Deborah Urbanek and husband Rick of Taylor, and Arleen Danek and husband Duane of Taylor; grandchildren, Bradley Stefek, Kristie Summers and husband Tyler, Kamie Crim and husband Jeff (and their soon to be born baby boy Crim due in May), Kayla and Ryan Manders, Kendra Brabandt and husband Shawn, Chad Simpson and wife Farren, Chase Danek, Kyle Danek and Brittany Lopez and Brittany Knox; step granddaughter, Stacey Pasemann and husband Aaron; great grandchildren, Kason and Kyler Brabandt, and Kierra and Bryce Danek; step great grandchildren, Alex and Jaxon Kunze, Cade and Chance Pasemann, and Chase and Isaiah Summers.
Also survived by brother, Louis Zbranek and wife Janie of Pflugerville; sisters, Annie Zak of Rosenberg and Mary Thaler of Taylor; sister-in-law, Martha David Stefek and Mary Ann Zbranek, brothers-in-law, George Stefek and wife Dorothy and Raymond Stefek, along with numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Honored to serve as pallbearers are grandsons Chad Simpson, Ryan Manders, Bradley Stefek, Kyle Danek, Chase Danek and Shawn Brabandt.
The family would like to send a special thank you to the Baylor Scott and White Hospital in Round Rock, Seton Medical Center in Austin, Elgin Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Elgin, and Gracia Hospice for their wonderful care.
Visitation will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. with Rosary beginning at 6 p.m., Friday, Feb. 4, at Providence Funeral Home in Taylor from.
Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, Feb. 5, beginning at 10 a.m. at St. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Granger, with committal service at Holy Cross Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Saint Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Granger.
