Mary Carmel Krovontka

Mary Carmel Sudela Krovontka passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 5, 2013, in the home of her loving daughter, Marcie Coppedge. Marcie has taken wonderful care of her mother for many years. Carmel was 99 years old.

Carmel was born July 16, 1914, at 9:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Infirmary in Galveston, Texas. Her father was Joseph John Sudela, born in Lhotka, Czechoslovakia, and her mother was Emily Margaret Holub Sudela, born in Fayetteville, Texas. They were married in St. Patrick’s Church in Galveston in 1935. Carmel was their first child. Carmel attended St. Patrick’s School, Ursuline Academy, and graduated from Dominican High School in Galveston. She was a lifetime member of St. Patrick’s Church and was a member of the Altar Society. She was also a life long member of KJZT.

Carmel met her husband, Stanley John Krovontka, while he was in the Army Air Corps at Fort Crockett in Galveston. Stanley was an airplane mechanic with the Army Air Corps which subsequently became the United States Air Force. Carmel and Stanley had five children; Carmel Emily, Elizabeth Ann, Stanley Anthony, Martha Marcella, and Paul Joseph. After serving 32 years in the Air Force, Stanley retired and the family moved back to Galveston. When Stanley died Carmel went to work as an admission specialist at St. Mary’s Infirmary until she retired in May of 1980 after 23 years of service.

Carmel loved gardening, taking care of her cats, visiting her children and grandchildren, listening to music (especially polkas), and having friends and family over. She loved life and parties and cooking for loved ones. Many happy hours were spent around her dining table enjoying the wonderful meals and kolaches she made.

The family would like to thank Colleen Ritter and her staff of Bluebonnet Hospice for all of her help in caring for Carmel.

Carmel is survived by her children Elizabeth Payne, Marcie Coppedge, and Stan Krovontka and daughter-in-law Donna Krovontka. Also surviving her are her grandchildren Paul Krovontka, Kristi Duke, Lee Payne, Angela Ward, Edith Schneider, Judith Ohman, Jim Coppedge, Mark Coppedge, Woodrow Coppedge, Lisa Coppedge, and Carmel Coppedge and their spouses. Carmel is also survived by nineteen great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren.

Carmel is also survived by her sister Teresa Christensen and husband John L. of League City, and brother, John Sudela and wife Mary Lou of Sugarland, and sister-in-law Mary Sudela of Monroe, Louisiana. She is preceded in death by her loving husband Stanley Krovontka and baby son Paul Joseph. Also preceding her in death was her beloved daughter Carmel Rinker, brother Joseph Sudela of Nederland, Texas, Jimmy (Vince) Sudela of Houston, and sisters Elizabeth Thelen of Pearland and Martha Marcella of Houston.

A visitation will be held at 5:00 pm with a rosary at 6:30 pm on Friday, November 8, at Malloy & Son Funeral Home. A funeral mass will be held Saturday, November 9, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Galveston with Father John Paul Flajole, OFM, officiating. Burial will follow the service at Old Catholic Cemetery.