Audrey Ann Pelzel, 60, of Rockdale, went to be with her Heavenly Father, surrounded by her loving family, Monday, May 15, 2023.
Audrey Ann Heselmeyer Pelzel was born April 8, 1963, in Taylor. She graduated with honors from Taylor High in 1981, and went on to earn a degree in elementary education with a minor in special education from Southwestern University in Georgetown, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1985.
Audrey lived to teach and touched many lives with her dedication and love for her students.
She taught in Taylor for 17 years, during which time she was honored with “Teacher of the Year”, before moving to Rockdale and teaching for 20 additional years at Rockdale ISD.
Audrey loved to learn and continued her education with numerous trainings and certifications, including earning her secondary reading certification and becoming the Reading and Dyslexia Specialist. She postponed her retirement to be able to teach alongside her daughter who also became a teacher.
She enjoyed spending time with her family and lifelong friends, and she was always there to lend a helping hand. She loved taking trips with the “Girls of ‘81” and going to see musicals and Broadway plays, loved a good football game, especially if the Cowboys were playing, and was constantly playing a sudoku, word game or puzzle.
She loved to listen to Elvis Presley and George Strait. In the morning, you could always find her with coffee, and she loved anything Hallmark and Christmas.
She loved her family dearly and her house on the hill. Audrey was a mother, an educator, and a loyal friend to anyone who had the pleasure of crossing her path.
She was a member of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church where she received all of her sacraments, including marriage to the love of her life Lee. She bravely, and with grace, fought cancer twice. She left this world with an abundance of faith and knowledge that she would see us all again.
She is survived by her loving husband of 32 years, Clayton Lee Pelzel. Also surviving are her three children Clayton, Nicholas and Allison Pelzel. Audrey is lovingly remembered by her mother and father, Albert and Alice Heselmeyer; sisters, Alaine Heselmeyer and Amy Noak; brothers and sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews.
The family received visitors from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 18, with a Rosary from 7 to 8 p.m. at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale.
Services were held at 11 a.m., Friday May 19, at St. Mary’s of the Assumption Catholic Church, 301 E. Fourth St. in Taylor. Burial followed at Bushdale Cemetery.
The family would like to thank the many doctors, nurses and caretakers she had the past two years. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate a book to a school of your choice in her memory.
