Diana Lynn (Matoska) Hejl passed away peacefully Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022, at the age of 69, after a lengthy battle with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare brain disorder.
Diana was born Nov. 25, 1952. She grew up with her family on a farm in Noack. She was a lifelong member of Christ Lutheran Church of Noack. Diana attended school in Thrall and graduated from Thrall High School in 1971. After high school, she attended beauty school and owned two beauty shops—Ervin’s #2 in Taylor and Hair Trends in Thrall. Diana loved to take care of people. She especially loved to feed them. She made many friends and memories throughout the years working at Zieschang’s Bar & Grill, Sirloin Stockade and Coupland Inn & Dancehall.
In her later years, she was a rural postal carrier for the USPS.
In 1974, Diana married her loving husband, Ronald Wayne Hejl. They celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary in August. Together, they built a happy home and full life in Thrall where they raised their three children—Donna, Kyle and Kelly—surrounded by family and friends. Ronald has been a loving and patient caregiver throughout her illness.
Diana was outgoing and loved people. She never met a stranger and went out of her way to help others. Diana was always around to help a friend out of a bind and knew just how to bend the rules to make them work for people. She taught her children to speak up and stand up for those who could not do it for themselves.
You knew where you stood with Diana, and you wanted her to stand on your side. She loved her kids’ friends like her own. Diana worked the hardest and laughed the loudest.
Diana’s biggest joys in life were her nine grandchildren. She loved babysitting and spoiling them rotten. They ate terribly and stayed up way too late when she was in charge. Grandma was fun, and the grandkids always looked forward to a visit. Diana could be found with Ronald attending games, concerts, recitals and school functions regularly for her grandchildren. She would pick a day with them over any adult function. Diana was preceded in death by her mother, Ann Gensler; stepfather, Alfred Gensler; and sister, Sharon Matoska.
Diana is survived by her husband, Ronald Hejl; children, Donna and husband Davis Baldwin of Austin, Kyle and wife Erin Hejl of McKinney, Kelly and wife Cheryl Hejl of Thorndale; nine grandchildren, Basil and Jacob Baldwin, Aubrey, Cooper and Nolan Hejl, Cayden Nicholson; and Katie, Kaisley and Kayson Hejl; as well as three sisters, Janice Bachmeyer, Kathy McCown and Ann Babola; and four brothers, Larry Matoska, Rodney Matoska, Darrell Matoska and Johnathan Gensler.
The family was held Thursday, Dec. 1, from 5 to 7 p.m., and a funeral service was Friday, Dec. 2, at 2 p.m., both at Providence Funeral Home in Taylor. Burial followed the service at Taylor City Cemetery with a reception immediately following at Thrall Fireman’s Hall.
Serving as pallbearers will be Basil Baldwin, Cayden Nicholson, Dan Ritchie, Josh Pick, David Bachmeyer, Dale Trayler, Joe Matoska and Rodney Lange.
Memorial contributions may be made to Christ Lutheran Church of Noack, 6370 FM 112, Taylor, TX 76574. Memories and online condolences may be shared with the family www. taylorprovidencefuneralhome. com/obituary/ diana-hejl.
