Marie Svoboda

Marie Beatrice "Prihoda" Svoboda, 84 of Damon, Texas passed away Wednesday, July 26, 2017 in Sweeny, Texas. She was born May 10, 1933 on her family's farm in Damon. She was one of the twelve children born to Vincent and Amalie (Dirba) Prihoda. She graduated from Needville High School in 1951.Not long after graduating high school, at the tender age of 19, she married the love of her life Henry Svoboda. They remained happily married for 35 years until Henry unexpectedly passed away in 1987.For most of that time, she worked side by side with her husband on their family farm, raising cotton, corn and cattle. When they were not working, Marie and Henry enjoyed fishing together and spending time at their vacation home and property in LaGrange, Texas. While she was in her fifties, she courageously decided to go back to school to receive a degree in higher education. She attended Prairie View A & M University, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in elementary education. What made her quest for higher education so remarkable was the fact that every single day she traveled a great distance from Damon to her University, while still being responsible for the same demanding jobs and tasks of her farm life. Often times, her studying was done from her farm tractor. She earned the respect of many of her professors and fellow classmates by juggling such a difficult schedule. Upon graduation from Prairie View A&M University, she was hired by the Damon School District, and she taught elementary school for several years, and spent many more years as a teacher's aide and substitute. Perhaps her most extraordinary accomplishment was her devotion to teaching C.C.E. religious classes for over 50 years.
Marie was a devout Catholic woman, and she was a long-time parishioner of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Damon, where she served her parish as a lector and Eucharistic minister. She was an active member of the Altar Society, K.J.Z.T, K.J.T. and Catholic Life. She faithfully prayed her rosary on a daily basis. Although Marie and Henry never had any children of their own, they were very involved in the lives of their many nieces and nephews. Marie enjoyed children very much, and after her husband passed away she raised two of her orphaned nephews. Some of her nieces and nephews considered her to be just like their mother.
Funeral services will be held 10:00am, on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Damon with Fathers David Zapalac and Marty Pham officiating. A visitation and rosary will be held Monday evening, July 31, 2017, at Baker Funeral Home in West Columbia from 5:00pm-7:00pm with the rosary at 7:00pm. Serving as pallbearers will be Michael Prihoda, Jacob Dines, Jr., Arnold Svoboda, Kenneth Rab, Johnny Barak and Steven Miculek.
Marie is survived by her brother, Frank Prihoda and sister, Ellie Havlik; nephews, Jacob Dines and wife, Lisa; Shane Dines and wife, Melissa; great nephews and nieces, Taylor, Jacob, Jr., Sydney, Jana, Henry and Emma Dines along with many other nieces and nephews from both the Prihoda and Svoboda families. She is preceded in death by her parents Vincent and Amalie Prihoda; her beloved husband, Henry Svoboda, 10 brothers and sisters, Bill Prihoda, Jerry Prihoda, Vlasta Dines, Johnny Prihoda, Jim Prihoda, Emil Prihoda, Eddie Prihoda, Lillian Miculek, and Bettie Rab.
Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Marie's memory.

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