Lillian A. Berger

Lillian was born in Plum, Texas, on September 7, 1931, to parents Joe and Frances (Sulik) Belota. She graduated from La Grange High School in 1948. While in high school, she met the love of her life, Donald Morris Berger. Lillian and Don were married on August 6, 1951. Soon after their wedding, Don was stationed in Germany for the Korean War. While Don was away, Lillian lived with her in-laws on the Berger family farm in Ammansville. Upon his return, they lived and worked on the farm until they moved to Houston in 1956.

Lillian and Don were married for 63 years until his passing in 2014. Together, they created a loving home on Moorberry Lane, where beautiful memories were made. She lived a full life as a wonderful mother, homemaker, and hard worker at their family business, Texas Automatic Foods.

She loved to cook and feed people and kept an immaculate home. On Sundays, they hosted family dinners for their kids and grandkids, where she would be sure to bake an Angel Food cake. Don and Lillian delighted to go together to family reunions, their River House built off the San Bernard (she loved to crab there), St. Jerome’s Fish Frys and Fall Festivals, Plum Festival, Ammansville Feast, and the St. Joseph benefits. If polka or dancing were involved, you would unquestionably see them on the dance floor.

Throughout her life, Lillian was a devout Catholic. She and Don were one of the founding families of St. Jerome Catholic Church. Lillian was a faithful parishioner and a member of Catholic Daughters and The Senior Group.

She will be fondly loved and remembered for many years to come. Lillian is survived by her son, Greg Berger, and his wife, Helen Berger; her daughter, Susan Berger Oswalt and her husband, Barry Oswalt; her son Leo Berger and his wife Kim Berger; her grandchildren, Melanie Berger Zermeno and her husband Anthony Zermeno; Daniel Berger and his wife Claire Berger; Deanna Berger Smith and her husband Philip Smith; Dawson Oswalt and his wife Abbie Oswalt; Lauren Oswalt Baber, Ryan Berger; Kirk Berger; her great-grandchildren, Kaylie Zermeno, Luke Zermeno, Blake Zermeno, Jackson Berger, Evan Berger, Andrew Berger, Hughes Baber, Dottie Baber, Ozzie Baber, Oliver Oswalt, Vera Oswalt, Philip (Daniel) Smith Jr., Carter Smith, brother Robert (Bob) Belota and sister-in-law Billie Hoffmann, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Lillian was preceded in death by her husband, Don Berger; mother, Frances Sulik Belota, father, Joe Belota Sr; brothers, Edwin Belota and Joe Belota; sisters, Martha Kainer, Eleanora Rainosek, and Annie Vasek; brothers-in-law, Leon Kainer, J.C. Rainosek, Jack Vasek, Frank Hoffmann and sisters-in-law Audrey Belota and Georgie Belota.

The family would like to thank Cornerstone Health Care, especially Alberta Kwodjo and Cecilia Warner, for their love and devotion to Lillian in her final months.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jerome Catholic Church, 8825 Kempwood Dr., Houston, TX, 77080. Visitation will be held at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home located at 13001 Katy Freeway in Houston on Thursday, February 1, 2024, from 5:00-8:00 pm with a rosary at 6:00 pm. The funeral service will be on Friday, February 2, 2024, at 10:00 am located at St. Jerome’s Catholic Church in Houston.