Mary Ann Dvorak

Mary Ann (Mraz) Dvorak, age 86, of Penelope, passed away Monday night July 7, 2025, at West Rest Haven.

A rosary will be recited at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 13, at Aderhold Funeral Home Chapel followed by visitation until 4 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, July 14, at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Penelope with the Rev. Thomas Jones as celebrant assisted by Deacon Denver Crawley. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery in Penelope.

Mary Ann was born on June 25, 1939, in a farm house outside Penelope, the third daughter of John and Olga (Machac) Mraz. She attended Penelope School and was the proud valedictorian of the Class of 1957. On January 28, 1958, she was united in marriage to Miloslav (William) Svrcek, with whom she had three daughters (Susan, Monica, and Barbara) before his death in 1966. On October 18, 1969, she was united in marriage to August "Goober" Dvorak. They completed their family with two more girls, Theresa and Becky. Goober preceded her in death in 1994.

Mary Ann was a lifelong and devoted member of Nativity of the B.V.M. parish in Penelope, where she served for many years as secretary, religious education coordinator, Eucharistic minister, as well as preparing the altar and side altars for mass. Many remember her running from booth to booth as a volunteer at the parish Bazaar over the years. She was a member of K.J.Z.T. Society #35 in Penelope and CDA Court #829 in West. Over the years she volunteered in the community in many ways, most notably serving on the Penelope School Board, Better School Organization, and Penelope Water Board.

Mary Ann worked at the Penelope Post Office for over forty years, beginning as a part-time clerk, then appointed Post Master there in 1985, and retiring in 2014. She enjoyed her years there, talking with the customers.

Mary Ann was a talented seamstress. She worked at the sewing factory in Hubbard for many years in the 1960s, and she sewed clothing for others over the years: cheerleading uniforms for school, costumes for Halloween and the One Act Play, wedding and bridesmaid dresses for many family members and friends. Her favorite and longest-lasting sewing projects were her quilts, a skill she learned from her mother. Each year she would make at least two quilts to be auctioned at the Penelope Bazaar. She also loved her garden and the flowers on her back porch.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her four brothers, Jerome, Theodore, John, and George; her three sisters, Mildred Garrison, Dorothy Dvorak, and Elsie Dvorak; and her husbands.

Survivors include her five daughters, Susan Cervenka and husband Ronny of Duncanville, Monica Sinkule and husband Vincent of Penelope, Barbara Kolar of West, Theresa Owens and husband Darrell of Dripping Springs, and Becky Enders and husband Steven of West; eighteen grandchildren, Melissa Gerik and husband Matt, Paul Cervenka and wife Courtney, Will Cervenka and wife Marissa, Brian Cervenka, Nick Cervenka, Ted Gallia, Jackie Chamberlain and husband David, Phillip Gallia and wife Jordyn, Emily Kolar, Laura Wichman and husband Kyle, Jacob Kolar, Amanda Soto and husband Justin, Hannah Owens, Matthew Enders and wife Brittney, Michelle Enders, Elaine Enders, Nicole Enders, Colton Enders, and Steven Enders, Jr.; great-grandchildren, McKinley and Mason Gerik, Avery, Landon, and Emma Cervenka, Alyssa and Trinity Moreno, Naya Cervenka, Arabella and Lilah Chamberlain, Cora, Maisey, and Josephine Gallia, Rachael and Logan Pruett, Colton and Dylan Wichman, Ezio and Alice Kolar, Haisley, Rhilynn, and Leighton Enders.

Pallbearers are grandsons Paul Cervenka, Will Cervenka, Brian Cervenka, Nick Cervenka, Ted Gallia, Phillip Gallia, Jacob Kolar, and Matthew Enders.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Nativity of the BVM Church or to the Penelope VFD.

The family would like to thank the staff at West Rest Haven and home-health nurse Terri Kelm for their compassionate care during the past months.