Mary Derkowski

Mary Januszewski Skweres Derkowski, 104, of Brenham, died March 17, 2009 in the Brenham Rest Home. Mrs. Derkowski was born August 1, 1904, to John and Magdalena Januszewski. She was part of the orphan train that arrived from New York. At a young age, she married Steven Skweres. They had five children, Dorothy, Valeria, Freddie, Edward and Johnnie C. Mr. Skweres preceded her in death in 1939. In 1941, she married John Derkowski. They had one son, Bennie. Mrs. Derkowski was a homemaker and a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. Most of her life she lived on the family farm in the house that her father built in 1912. There she raised her six children and one granddaughter, Annie Marie Skweres. She supported them by farming cotton, corn and other things. Her granddaughter, Annie, cared for her until she was 100, at which time she resided at a nursing facility in Brenham. Survivors include her sons, Edward Skweres of Brenham and Johnnie C. Skweres and wife Ola of Houston; daughter, Valeria Schoppe of Somerville; 24 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Steven Skweres; second husband, John Derkowski; sons, Freddie Skweres and Bennie Derkowski; daughter, Dorothy Brending; sons-in-law, Jim Brending and Clarence Schoppe; grandsons, Timothy Schoppe and Johnnie C. Skweres, Jr.; and brother and sister-in-law, Joe and Mary Januszewski. A rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 19 at Memorial Oaks Chapel. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 20 at St. Mary''s Catholic Church in Brenham. Burial will be in Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Brenham. Pallbearers will be Freddie Brending, James Brending, Leroy Brending, Roger Brending, Cary Brending, Michael Schoppe, Lucas Brending and Timothy Murski. Honorary pallbearers will be Glen Brending and Herman Brending.