Sulak

Funeral services for Lillie K. (Mrs. John L.) Sulak, 106, of La Grange will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 539 E. Pearl St. in La Grange at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 23, 2019. Burial will follow at the La Grange City Cemetery with Rev. Alberto Carbajal Madera officiating. Sulak was retired from The Fayette County Record after 57 years of service.

Visitation was held on Monday, July 22, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Koenig-Belvill Funeral Home & Cremations. Family received friends from 4 to 7 p.m. A rosary was recited at 7 p.m.

Lillie Sulak was born Sept. 10, 1912, the daughter of Frank C. and Mary (Janda) Kallus, who resided three and one half blocks from the Fayette County Courthouse on North Washington Street. She married John L. Sulak on May 18, 1937. He preceded her in death on July 14, 1960.

She served the longest of anyone on staff in the history of The Fayette County Record. Her association with the newspaper began in December 1942, when her husband who was associate and managing editor, volunteered into the Navy during World War II.

She resigned her job as principal of Rabb’s Prairie School to give a helping hand where needed to fill the vacancy created by his leaving. She worked either full time or part time (when she taught half days at Sacred Heart School and worked half days at the newspaper). During the years, she worked as bookkeeper, as sales person and staff writer for the newspaper.

She was active in church, community and youth work. She was selected as outstanding Senior Citizen in Fayette County in 1983. In June 2005, Sulak was honored by receiving a prestigious award for church service. She was awarded the Lumen Gentium (Light of the World) by the Austin Diocese. She was nominated by Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She donated her time and talent as Sacred Heart Church organist for over 60 years.

A lifelong member of Sacred Heart Church, she was a leader of parish organizations, served as president, vice-president, secretary and parliamentarian and chairman of committees in the Altar Society, PTC, and Parish Council of Catholic Women. She also served in the same capacities on the district level of the CCW and as spiritual and publicity chairman on the diocesan level. She served for three years as editor of The Bulletin, a diocesan CCW publication and attended the DCCW convention for 21 consecutive years. She was also an active member of Court Annunciation No. 1962, CDA, and St. Frances of Rome KJZT having received her 75-year membership pen.

While a member of the Sacred Heart PTC, she started the Sacred Heart School Memorial Library Fund, which is still in existence today. She was one of the organizers of the Living Rosary Circle over 50 years ago and has been a rosary leader all those years. She was also a study club leader for many years and has always promoted the Clerical Endowment Fund, and the Sacred Heart School Endowment Fund.

She helped organize Cub Scout Pack 213 and was den mother for three years. She helped three boys, one of whom was her son, to receive the highest religious cub scout award, the Ad Altare Dei award. She worked with the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) while her daughter and son were members. She also helped organize the Junior KJZT and served as leader for over 10 years.

She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 102 since the end of World War II, a charter member of the VFW Auxiliary and the first junior vice president. For many years she was publicity chairman. She taught school at Rabb’s Prairie for 7 1/2 years and half days at Sacred Heart School for 26 years.

She spent the last 4 and a half years at Jefferson Place Assisted Living filling her days playing dominoes, bingo, crafting and doing word games. During her time there she made many friends of the residents and caregivers. Most recently she was a resident of Schulenburg Regency Nursing Center where she received continuous care as her needs increased. She was very appreciative for the quality of life that these environments enabled her to have in her final years.

Survivors include one daughter, Jane Lewis and husband Rob of San Antonio; one son, Tim Sulak of London, England., one granddaughter, Lindsay Jess and husband Dan of Raleigh, N.C.; two grandsons, Reagan Lewis and his wife Sada and Jason Lewis and his wife Sara, all of San Antonio; six great grandchildren: Kylie Marie, Kaitlyn Jane, and Daniel Bennett Jess of Raleigh; Paige Lily, Blake Isabelle, and Jackson Elliott Lewis of San Antonio; one niece, Barbara Lovell of Houston; greatniece, Laura Pittman of Sealy and great-nephews, Michael Pittman and wife Shirley of Houston and Danny Klatt and wife Alexis of The Woodlands, and several great-great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; infant sister Josephine; brother, B.J. (Buck) Kallus; one niece, Vera Klatt and husband Floyd; fatherin-law and mother-in-law, L.J. and Emilie Sulak; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Lena and C.J. Cernosek; and nephew-inlaw, Don Lovell.

Memorial contributions can be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in La Grange, Sacred Heart School Endowment Fund, Court Annunciation No. 1962 Catholic Daughters of the Americas Memorial Scholarship Fund, Clerical Endowment Funds of KJZT or Austin Diocesan Council of Catholic Women.

Family and friends can view and sign the guestbook online at

www.lagrangefunerals.com.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Koenig-Belvill Funeral Home & Cremations in La Grange.