Lillian Theresa Kaspar

Lillian Matula Kaspar, 87, of Taylor, Texas, passed away peacefully on August 13, 2024, after a brief but aggressive illness.

She was born at home on the Matula Farm near Granger, Texas; the fourth child of Adolf and Anna (Knapek) Matula.  Her first language was Czech, and she learned English when she started school.  She attended SS Cyril and Methodius Catholic School in Granger.

In 1954 she married Rudy Kaspar, and moved to Taylor.  Rudy and Lillian had three children, James, Thomas, and Donna.

As a working mom, Lillian was employed as a telephone operator with Southwestern Bell, and then worked for Safeway for many years while she and Rudy raised the kids.

During those busy years, she volunteered at her church (St. Mary’s) with her sister Mary Ann, cultivating and arranging the lush green ivies that decorated the altars in the 1970s and 80s.  Lil and Mary Ann also ran the popular cake walk at the parish picnic for many years.  More recently, the two siblings partnered with other volunteers to help make the parish altar breads from scratch, above the gymnasium.

Later on she worked for First Taylor National Bank as a teller where she really enjoyed her colleagues and customers.  She loved working in the public.

She spent many years volunteering at the old SPJST rest home, helping with games, bingo, Czech celebrations, music, and devotional readings. She was among a Taylor group recognized at the state capitol for their outstanding volunteer service.

In her retirement, she totally looked forward to going to work each day at Guthrie Cleaners on North Main.

Lillian was a terrific cook, and passed those skills to all three children.  She enjoyed BBQ gatherings at home with her sons and families, and also traveling to various cities to visit her daughter and son-in-law.

She cherished her three grandkids, Luke, J.D, and Bean, and delighted in their visits and the opportunity to play dominoes and tarocks with them.  She chanced the “pagat na zadek” at every opportunity.  She also loved to play tarocks in the annual tournaments, and eagerly followed the Astros, Rangers, and professional tennis on TV.

Lillian sang in the Taylor Czech Chorus for many years.  She was a member of the SPJST, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, St. Anne’s Altar Society, the KJT and KJZT.

She was predeceased by her husband Rudy, son James, her two brothers and sisters-in-law Laddie and Helen Matula, and Tony and Linda Matula; brother-in-law Raymond Stauffer; and in-laws Bill and Edith Kaspar, and Rose and Truett Hobbs.

Lil is survived by her son Thomas, daughter Donna (Jim Piburn), and grandchildren Luke, John David, and Savannah Kaspar; and her sister Mary Ann Stauffer, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, August 23 at 10:30 AM at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Taylor.  Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation to M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.