Mary Violet Gorka

Mary Violet Valerio Gorka of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 3, 2022, at her daughter’s home in Conroe, Texas. Born on August 23, 1929, in Houston, Texas to her parents, Dora Zuniga Valerio and Maurice Valerio who proceeded her in death.

Mary spent her entire life in Houston. After her school years she worked at Continental Springs and there she met the love of her life, Edmond Gorka. They married September 29, 1947 and settled on Rosie Street. At that time hardly more than a cow path and now a four-lane busy street called Parker Road. It was here they raised three daughters and one son.

Mary was a homemaker, devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She was an excellent seamstress, enjoyed cooking, baking, and canning. Mary enjoyed visiting with her family, friends, neighbors, and her friends at Assumption Catholic Church. In her spare time, she enjoyed working puzzles, playing cards and dominoes. Bowling was also very important to her, and she belonged to a bowling league and had many friends there. She was also a member of Ladies Auxiliary of Knights of Columbus #2917. Mary loved her flowers and tending to her favorite yellow roses.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Edmond Gorka, Sr., son, Edmond Gorka, Jr. of Palm Spring, California, parents Maurice and Dora Valerio, and brothers, Maurice Valerio, Jr. of Akron, Ohio, Leon Valerio of Los Angeles, California, Arnold Valerio of Houston, Texas and sister, Juliet Cervantes of Los Angeles. She leaves behind to cherish her memory, daughters, Gracie Porter and her husband John Porter of Grove, Oklahoma; Shirley Przyborski and her husband Sigmond Przyborski of Conroe, Texas; Linda Jordan and her husband Louis Jordan of Houston, Texas; ten grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren.

Serving as pallbearers are Brad Przyborski, Clayton Przyborski, David Porter, Chris Porter, Hayden Arevalo, Brent Sargent, Brandon Barwig and Colt McDonald.

Visitation for Mary will be held Friday, March 11, 2022, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Pat H. Foley & Company, 1200 West 34th Street, Houston, TX 77018. A rosary service will occur Friday, March 11th from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, 1200 West 34th Street, Houston, TX 77018. A funeral mass will occur Saturday, March 12th from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Assumption Catholic Church, 901 Roselane St, Houston, TX 77037. A committal service will occur Saturday, March 12th from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Brookside Memorial Park, 13747 Eastex Freeway, Houston, TX 77039.