Ellen Reilly Urbanek

Our beautiful, strong and elegant mother, Ellen Reilly Urbanek, passed away in Taylor on August 27, 2017.  Born in 1924 in County Galway, Ireland, she immigrated to England at a young age where she met Ben Urbanek of Taylor, Texas while he was a medic during World War II. They married in 1945 in Irlam, England and were married for 43 years until his death in 1988.

A year later she followed Ben to Texas after his tour ended and set up house in Taylor, where their union produced eight daughters, all of whom survive her: Patricia and husband John McBride (children Shelley Grabowski, Matt Naivar); Pauline and husband Robert Hoehn (Trevor Lawrence, Melanie Lawrence, Josh Hoehn); Kathryn and husband Martin Lassoff (Vincent Lassoff, Michael Lassoff); Susan and husband Jim Briscoe (Lauren Bullock, Rachel Briscoe); Marian and husband Mike Merritt (Jonathan Merritt, Kelsey Merritt); Margaret Richardson (Emily Durell , Evan Richardson, Ben Richardson); Ginny and husband Steven Sutton (Jacob Sutton, Zachary Sutton); Nancy and husband Timmy Talley (Erin Schmidt, Chris Talley, Laurie Millican). She was predeceased by her brother Thomas Reilly and granddaughter Jessica Rae Merritt. She is survived by a total of 19 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, a brother Jimmy Reilly and his wife, Doreen of Irlam, England, sister-in-law Anne Vittek, brother-in-law Charles Urbanek, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives, who all thought the world of her.

A devout member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church since 1946, Ellen served on the Altar Society, was a member of the Catholic Daughters and volunteered for St. Vincent de Paul and also for the hospital auxiliary for years. Many remember her as a co-worker at Intercraft Frames, from which she retired.

After retirement, she enjoyed traveling the world with her sister-in-law Minnie Urbanek, now deceased, and her dear friend, Doris Rinderknecht.

Ellen provided a role model on how to be hard-working, kind, gracious and hospitable to all.  Our anchor and matriarch, she taught us to respect all people. She will be missed every day.

For their kind and compassionate care, the family extends sincere thanks to Maggie Sodergren, the staff of the SPJST Assisted Living facility, as well as to the staff of Seton Williamson Hospital.

Visitation Friday, September 1 at 6:00 p.m. at Providence Funeral Home with rosary to follow. Funeral mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Saturday at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Mary’s Catholic Church or School, any Catholic mission or any organization providing assistance to farmers.