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~ "CHANGING TO MEET THE CHANGING NEEDS OF
VE TNIK SP JST Herald
"Joining Hands To Touch Lives-Fraternalism for the Family • • and our Nation" Official
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Organ Of The Slavomc Benevolent Order Of The State Of Texas, Founded 1897 BROTHERHOOD
HUMANITY
BENEVOLENCE
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Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 to: SUPREME LODGE, SP JST, P.O. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503
VOLUME79
NUMBER26
ISSN--07458800
·"'""'··-i:.,:.:: ... ~ ..•. =>: E'.,,~··-~ District III Director and Chairman of the Board Cyrill "Sid" Pokladnik congratulating and presenting "Certificate of· Appreciation Award" to Sister Terezie Marek.
Another Milestone In SPJST History
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DISTRICT III DIRECTOR AND LODGE 54 OFFICERS with honored guest, Standing, L to R: Director Cyrill "Sid" Pokladnik, Financial Secretary/FAC Maxine Sefcik, Treasurer/Sales Representative Freddie Kaluza. Seated, L to R: Beanie Kacir (Audit Committee chairman), Sister Terezie Marek, and Secretary/Reporter Anne Emery. their spouses who are the closest rela tives) and their children, grand children and great-grand-children who presented a bouquet of red roses, Lodge 54 gave her a red/white and blue carnation corsage, and a huge SPJST cake baked and donated by Mona Zahirniak (who caters to many weddings).
SPJST HONORE)i; with her remaining close relatives celebrating a special occasion at West Rest Haven Activity Room. Seated, L to R: John Kasik, nephew; Sister Terezie Marek, and John Stunkard. Standing: Eugene Ur banovsky; Lillian Urbanovsky, niece; Marguerite Kasik; and Elsie Stunkard, niece. Such an event took place at West Rest Haven in McLennan County. Saturday, June 15, 1991 when Terezie Marek was honored by SPJST Supreme Lodge and Jaromir Lodge No. 54, West. In the chronicle of any organization Representing the SPJST was District there are occasions in its history that III Director and Chairman of the Board will long be remembered, the type that Cyrill "Sid" Pokladník of Dallas, who not only brings a rare happening to our spoke in Czech and English languages special attention - when an individual while making the award presentation reaches 96 years of age. and congratulating her for outliving Still more rare than this will be the · her policy; others participating in the occasions where more members will : celebration included Secretary Anne attain such blessed age, where they are · Emery, Financial Secretary and FAC insured by our SPJST fraternal or Maxine Sefcik, Treasurer and Sales ganization that will honor its Representative Freddie Kaluza and recipients with a "Certificate of Ap Sister Beanie Kacir, plus Sister preciation." Marek's nephew and two nieces (with
July 3, 1991
The 96-year life story of Terezie Marek is very interesting, yet very sad, however, with her strong, positive at titude and determination, she never gave up hope living. We hope most of you will be delighted to share her life's history with us: Born May 31, 1895 in Bratrejove (Moravia) Czechoslovakia, Terezie (Kovar) Marek was born to Thomas and Frances Kovar. Although her mother's maiden name was also Kovar, they were not related in any way, however, there were many Kovar families in the community where they lived, therefore, each Kovar had a nickname for the village they were from originally. Terezie was the youngest of six children; three brothers, John, Thomas and Frank and two sisters, Marie and Frances. Her father died when she was nearly one year old and her mother died when she was nine years of age. After her parents died, the oldest mem ber in the family had to live on the farm because it was the law, therefore, her brothers and sisters took care of her. Terezie came to the United States with her brother, Thomas, in July 1914 at 19 years of age. She settled in Granger, Texas and lived with her cousin, Mary and her husband, Paul Krupala. While on the farm, she had to help them pick cotton which she
wasn't familiar with picking cotton. Her cousin, Mary, would help her pick a row of cotton and help put the cotton in the pick sack. (Terezie said: "If she would have had the money to go back to Czechoslovakia, she would have gone, immediately.") Later on she moved in with her sister, Frances; andher husband, Char les Kasik, in Axtell. At this time, Terezie met John J. Marek and on November 22, 1915 they were married in the Czech-Moravian Brethren Church in West, Texas. Several years later, they purchased a farm in the Tokio community near the city of West where they lived until 1957 and then moved to the city of West. During their 59 years of marriage, unfortunately, her husband, John J. Marek, passed away August 2, 1975. She remained living alone until February 19, 1988 when she moved to West Rest Haven where she presently resides. · Terezie Marek enrolled her SPJST membership in December 1918 at Lodge No. 126 in Ross and in Decem ber 1977, she transferred her member ship to Lodge Jaromir No. 54, West when the two lodges merged and has held her membership until on May 31, 1991 when she became eligible for full face value of life insurance while still living, a span of 73 years of member ship -- what a remarkable record! The Supreme Lodge, Lodge 54 mem bership and the 79 attendees, at the reception, wish her much good health and a continued bright outlook on life. In the Czech Section is also an ar ticle pertaining to Terezie Marek, the language she has always known well and admired. (Information courtesy: FAC Maxine Sefcik and John Kasik.)