Lydia Skrhak

Lydia was born March 22, 1916 to Joseph and Francis Lastovica Safarik at their home on the Tyler Farm in the Rice’s Crossing Community, Williamson County Texas. She was baptized April 4, 1916, and confirmed August 10, 1930, Taylor Brethren Church. Lydia attended Tyler School until her family purchased a farm at Hoxie, Texas in 1945. She then attended Hoxie and Waterloo Schools through the fifth grade.

On August 26, 1936 at the Granger Brethren Church Lydia married Henry Arnold Volek, the father of her four children. She married Steve John Skrhak on June 4, 1966 at the Taylor Brethren Church.

Her first fifty years she resided in the Taylor and Granger area. In 1966, she moved to Buckholts and later to the Winnie L. Nursing Facility, Cameron, Texas. She moved to the Taylor SPJST Nursing Home in 2006 and resided there until her death.

In the years she spent in Buckholts she truly enjoyed working with the church and Christian Sisters after having worked on the farm and at John’s Hospital at Taylor for 12 years.

All her life Lydia was a can-do person, she always made the best of a bad situation. Her family and friends will always remember her love of life, positive attitude, and sense of humor, her fun loving and comical ways. Lydia definitely lived life to the fullest every day.

Although not an outwardly religious person, she had a deep and abiding faith. Her strict Czech upbringing helped shape her into an honorable lady.

Her parents, Joseph and Francis Lastovica Safarik, her husbands, and brothers Zickmund Joe Safarik, Leslie (Lee) Safarik and her sister, Viola Elfie Safarik McGuirt, preceded her in death.

Lydia is survived by daughters, Shirley Volek Werchan and husband, Nolin, of Taylor; Henrietta Volek Stanford and husband, John, of Leander; Helen Volek Urbis, of Taylor; and son Edward Henry Volek of Paige.

Lydia’s granddaughter’s and husbands are Deborah Werchan Phillips – Jeff Phillips of Hutto; Shelley Werchan Pavlicek – Felix “Buster” Pavlicek of Taylor; Louanna Werchan Miller – Dave Miller of Monticello, IL; Lana Volek Michalski – Richard Michalski of Elgin; Dana Volek of Hutto; Clorice Stanford Quast – Carl Quast of San Antonio; Crystal Stanford Nichols – Jay Nichols of Leander; Rachel Stanford of Austin; and Nicole Urbis Scott – David Scott of Austin.

Great granddaughters are Katherine Phillips, Lindsey Nichols, Kelsey Nichols, and Brodi Volek. She also has numerous step-great grandchildren, a step-great great grandson and numerous nieces and nephews.

Her sister-in-law and best friend, Bertha Jane (Bessie) Cadan Safarik, of Taylor also survives her.

Stepfamily members are Steve’s children, Sammie Skrhak and family, of McGregor, Johnny Skrhak and family of Temple and David Skrhak and family of Buckholts.

The family is thankful to Lydia’s family at the Taylor SPJST Nursing Home who lovingly took care of her and provided for all of her needs during her near five years as a resident.

Visitation will be held at Condra Funeral Home from 6-8 PM on Monday, February 14, 2011. Services will be held at the Condra Funeral Home Chapel at 10 AM Tuesday, February 15, 2011. Burial to follow at the Taylor City Cemetary.

Those desiring may make a memorial contribution to the Taylor Brethren Church or the SPJST Nursing Home Activities Fund.