Angelina Bednar

Angelina Bednar, Mrs. Frank Bednar, Angie, Granny, died quietly in the Brenham Rest Home early Monday morning, December 29, 2003, with her daughter Cornelia at her side. Fr. David Ivey from St. Mary s Catholic Church performed the Anointing of the Sick the evening before, with a roomful of Angelina s children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and their spouses participating. Angelina was born in Latium, Texas, December 2, 1913, to George and Anna Kadlechek Baron. Except for a brief time in LaPorte in 1938, Angelina lived in Latium all her life, until she moved to Brenham Rest Home in December 2002. On March 29, 1932, Angelina married Frank Bednar, who preceded her in death in 1981, just before their 50th wedding anniversary. Together they farmed 100 acres, which Angelina was instrumental in having designated a Century Heritage Farm, which meant it was maintained as a farm by the same family for 100 years. After Frank s death, Angelina chose to stay and run the farm by herself, which she did for over 20 years. Columnist for Brenham Banner-Press since 1964, by appointment from Lyndon Baines Johnson as recognition for her pioneering work in organic gardening and soil conservation practices, Angelina was always eager to share her love of growing vegetables, and many gardeners in the area can boast of a plant that is a descendant of one Angelina gave them. After her children were grown, Angelina became active in the Catholic Daughters, collaborated on the History of Sacred Heart Church, and was instrumental in the designation of the County Line School site as a Washington County Historical Site. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Eugene and Julia Bednar of Austin; daughters and sons-in-law, Cornelia Bednar and Earl Wentworth and Beatrice Bednar and Philip Donisi, all of Houston; grandchildren and their spouses, Karin Wentworth and Gary French of Toronto, Canada, Gregory Wentworth of Houston, John and Gina Donisi of Austin, Barry and Lorin Bednar of Sugar Land, Robert and Danielle Bednar of Austin, Susan Bednar of Austin, James and Tasca Bednar of Austin and Linda Bednar and Kenneth Paterson of Elgin, Scotland; great-grandchildren, Melanie Wentworth Jenkins of Houston, Brian Wentworth of Damon, Erik Rhodes of Austin, Anika Bednar of Austin, Breck Bednar of Sugar Land, Chloe Bednar of Sugar Land, Carly Bednar of Sugar Land and Sebastian Bednar of Sugar Land; great-great-grandson, Hunter Jenkins of Houston; and sister, Anna Wasserman of Wesley. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and 10 brothers and sisters. The family would like to thank especially the volunteers with Meals-on-Wheels, and neighbors Carl and Joyce Martin and Gary and Carolyn Hilgen, for helping Angelina maintain her cherished independence as long as possible, and the staff of Brenham Rest Home for the loving care they provided Angelina during her stay there. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 31 in St. Mary s Catholic Church in Brenham with Father David Ivey, celebrant. Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Latium. The family will receive visitors from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 30 in Memorial Oaks Chapel, and the rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. Her grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main St., in Brenham.