"CHANGING TO MEET 1HE CHANGING NEEDS OF FRATERNALISTS"
ESTNIK
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SPJST Herald "Joining Hands To Touch Lives-Fraternalism for the Family and Our Nation"
Official Organ Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order of the State of Texas, Founded 1897 HUMANITY
BENEVOLENCE
BROTHERHOOD
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 to: SUPREME LODGE, SPJST, P. 0. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503 August 31 1994 ISSN-07458800 VOLUME 82 NUMBER 33 Family and friends turned out on July 26, 1994 to honor Sister Annie Schiller Svec on the occasion of her 96th birthday. SPJST members, like Sister Svec, who achieve the Grand Age of 96 are entitled to all SPJST membership benefits with no further dues or assessments required.
Congratulations to Anna Schiller Svec
Lodge 65, Crosby member achieves Grand Sister Annie was born on July 26, 1898 The SPJST extends its hearty congratto John and Theresa Pecha Schiller in ulations to Sister Anna (Annie ) Schiller Hockley, Texas. The Schillers, who were Svec, a member of Lodge 65, Crosby, of Czechoslovakia, immigrated to . nat who celebrated her 96th birthday on July ited States at a young age. the 26, 1994. As such, Sister Annie is entiAnnie was one of tled to all SPJST four children born to membership benele Schiller family. fits with no further brothers, John dues or assessments hiller of Wallis required. nd Emil Schiller of Friends and famRosenberg are both ily, including childeceased. Her sister, dren, grandchildren, Albina Schiller great-grandchildren Bravenec, lives in and a great-greatBellville, Texas. Her grandson marked mother died in 1949. the occasion with a As a young girl, birthday luncheon she was injured in a on Sunday, July SPJST Supreme Lodge President 24th, 1994, at the Leshikar presents Sister Svec with buggy accident in which she broke her home of her grand- Age 96 recognition certificate. hip; however, she daughter, Shirley never let it slow her down. After her Sebesta and husband, Joe. Also on hand father passed away in 1913, Sister Annie for the celebration were SPJST Supreme left school to help her mother and sister Lodge President Howard Leshikar, Mr. earn a living on the farm. She recalls and Mrs. Jerry Prochazka and Mr. and many an early morning spent sitting on Mrs. John Pavlik of Lodge 65, Crosby, and the Rev. Dr. Larry Koslovsky, Pastor the turn row, waiting for the sun to come up so they could get started working in of the Crosby Brethren Church.
the fields. Aft,.. „,,i ng the crops in the fall, she also worked for the neighbors. Sister Annie married John Svec on October 17, 1922 in the Czech-Moravian Church with the late Rev. Kubricht conducting the ceremony. Brother Svec, a veteran of World War I, and Sister Annie farmed in the communities of East Bernard and Wallis. They moved to the Crosby area in 1926, where they lived on the Stetka Farm. They later lived on the Skrabanek Farm and also the J.E. Allen Farm on Stroker Road. In 1943, Brother and Sister Svec moved to Crosby where Sister Annie still lives today. Brother Svec passed away on March 24, 1963. Mrs. Svec's family includes her daughter, Stasie Lesikar, and son and daughter-in-law, Raymond and Ruby Svec, all of Crosby. Her grandchildren are Shirley Lesikar Sebesta, wife of Joe Sebesta, and Lynn Ray Svec, also of Crosby. Her great-grandchildren are Christopher Sebesta and Staci Sebesta of
Crosby and Jerry Sebesta and wife, Cyndye Sebesta of Alief. Her greatgreat-grandson is Conner Josef Sebesta of Alief. All were in attendance at the recent birthday celebration and many are members of the SPJST. Sister Annie lists "cooking for her family," among the many activities she has enjoyed over the years. She also enjoyed crocheting, embroidering and quilt-making, as well as baking kolaches—every week—as long as she was able. Sister Annie has enjoyed excellent health for most of her life, with the exception of the last six years, during which time she underwent several surgeries. And, as daughter Stacie writes, "With her strong will and God's loving hand, she overcame them all." Once again, the SPJST congratulates Sister Annie Schiller Svec for reaching the Grand Age of 96. We wish her many more years of health and prosperity.
SPJST-
SPJST member shines in Czech-Slovak pageant Melanie Zavodn of Lod e 24 C clone selected first runner-u Melanie Zavodny was selected as first runner-up in the 1994 Miss Czech-Slovak USA Pageant held August 5 and 6 in Wilber, Nebraska. Melanie is the 199495 Miss Texas Czech and she represented Texas in the pageant which was held in conjunction with the 33rd Annual Nebraska Czech Festival. Angela Vaca, a 20-year old nursing student from David City, Nebraska was crowned the 1994 Miss Czech-Slovak USA Queen. Melanie, 21, is the daughter of Milton and Martha Zavodny of Rogers. Her pageant sponsors were David Nauert and her parents. "The pageant was a wonderful opportunity to meet a lot of good people," says Melanie. "I hope to stay involved with the pageant and would encourage other young people to take a more active interest in their colorful heritage."
There were four categories for judging the contestants, including the judges' personal interview, stage interview by the master of ceremonies, costume presentation and talent competition. Fourteen contestants from Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas competed in the contest. Melanie wore a handmade costume, designed and made my Maggie Grmela and Evie Pratka of Kroj's Czech Costume Creations of West, Texas. Melanie's costume resembled the kroj worn in the Moravian region of the former Czechoslovakia. Many Texas Czechs are descendants of immigrants of this area, including Melanie's grandmother, Frances Schiller and grandfather, Joseph Zavodny.
For the talent competition, Melanie presented a dramatic reading from "Dvorak in Love." The passage told of a young American girl from the Southern states who meets the great Czech musical composer, Antonin Dvorak. Melanie, who is a member of SPJST Lodge 24, Cyclone was District Two Queen in 1990-1991 and District Two Miss SPJST in 1992. She was also first runner-up for State Queen and Miss SPJST in 1992. She was a member of the Lodge 24 Youth Club for 12 years and is currently serving as youth leader at Lodge 24, Cyclone. Melanie is a 1994 honor graduate of Temple Junior College and plans to attend the University of Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton, Texas in the fall of 1994. —SPJST-
Sister Melanie Zavodny