Katherine Strauss

Mrs. Katherine Strauss age 95 of El Rito, NM. died peacefully on Monday May 17, 2010. She was born in Shiner, TX. to the late Albert & Katherine Barta. She was raised on the family farm growing up without electricity or running water and graduated high school from St. Ludmila High School in Shiner. She attended The Providence School of Nursing in Waco, TX. graduating in 1941. She was a private duty nurse in Ft. Worth, TX. and a lifelong Registered Nurse. She enjoyed gardening and reading and kept up with current affairs. She had a special place in her heart for veterans and people serving in the military, and was an avid fan of american baseball. She was a lifelong Catholic and longtime parishoner of St. Theresa Catholic Church in Houston, TX. She was preceded in death by her parents, her former husbands; John F. Pospichal, Fred M. Skelton and Ben Strauss and her nine siblings; Albert, John, Tom, Rudy, Frank and Joe Barta, and Jim, Adolph and Martin Havel, Anna Pesek, Emma Gardner and Rosie & Mary Hartl. She is survived by her sons Stephen Skelton and wife Susan Wayne of Ribera, NM. and Johnny Skelton of El Rito, NM., special grandson Adam Skelton of Albuquerque, NM., retired nun; Sister Lillian Barta of The Villa De Matel in Houston, TX.,sister in law Erna Barta and brother in law Joe Strauss, both of Shiner, TX., niece Mildred Hayes and husband John Hayes of Marble Falls Texas and eighteen nieces & nephews and other loving family members. Recitation of the rosary will be on Wednesday May 19th at 7:30 p.m. at the San Juan Nepomuceno Catholic Church in El Rito, with the Mass of Christian burial being celebrated on Thursday morning at 8;30 a.m. also at church, with interment to follow at the Santa Fe National Cemetery at 11:30 a.m. Memorial contributions in her name may be made to Ambercare Hospice 410 Paseo De Onate Espanola, NM. 87532. Rivera Family Funeral Home of Espanola, NM. 753-2288, toll free (800) 443-4854 www.riverafamilyfuneralhome.com