Sybil Marcella Vanecek

Sybil Marcella (Gola) Vanecek, 90, passed away on February 25, 2024.  She was born on November 7, 1933, the daughter of Charlie and Marcella Gola. She was the oldest of five children, growing up on a Czech family farm in Granger, Texas and graduating from Granger High School. On September 15, 1952 she married Daniel Vanecek at St. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church in Granger. They were married 66 years until his passing in 2019. Sybil worked as a Telephone Operator with Southwestern Bell before joining her husband at Dan’s Upholstery and Drapery Shop for well over fifty years. Together they decorated countless homes throughout Taylor, Round Rock and Georgetown. The grandchildren spent numerous afternoons helping around the shop, moving furniture, folding draperies, or just picking up needles before someone's toe found one.

She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters of America, and KJZT. She found fulfillment in serving her church through teaching catechism education (CCD) for many years.

She was preceded in death by her husband Daniel Vanecek; parents Charlie and Marcella Gola; sisters Marie Hajda and Helen Manning; sister-in-law Margie Gola; son-in-law Joe Dan Gray; and granddaughter-in-law Rosalyn Torres-Rieger.

She is survived by six children: Susan Gray of Taylor; Peggy Marshall (Bill) of Las Vegas, Nevada; Jeana Matetzschk (Rick) of Taylor; Barbara Lankford (Terry) of Henderson; Tom Vanecek (Michele) of Thrall; and Tim Vanecek (Donna) of Taylor; fifteen grandchildren: Michael Hodge, Steven Rieger, Brian Rieger (Darlyn), Ryan Leech (Teal), April Knapek (Justin), Lindsey Rieger (Heath), Aaron Vanecek (Audrey), Paige Cotner (Jed), Tyler Vanecek, Kyle Vanecek (Ann), Connor Vanecek, Collin Vanecek, Kacie Vanecek, Tera Foster (Regan), and Thomas Lankford; twenty-four great-grandchildren: Mikey Hodge, Magical Hodge, Romeo Marinoff (Hayley), Kylie Rieger, Daniel Rieger, Kayla Rieger, Cheyenne Rieger, Chloe Rieger, Jackson Rieger, Maddy Phillips, Hayden Knapek, Kaleb Knapek, Devyn Leech, Ayden Leech, Evelyn Leech, Teryn Foster, Travis Foster, Hudson Vanecek, Brooks Vanecek, Sadie Vanecek, Lane Rieger, Cole Rieger, Jack Cotner, and Logan Cotner. She is also survived by a sister Linda Naizer (Ron) of Midlothian; brother Charles Gola of Liberty; brothers-in-law Fred Manning of San Antonio and Albert Hajda of Taylor.

Rosary, visitation, and funeral service will be held on Monday, March 4, 2024. Rosary will be prayed at 12:00 pm, followed by a visitation at 1:00 pm and funeral at 2:00 pm at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Taylor, interment to follow at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.

Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be made to St. Mary’s Catholic School, 520 Washburn Street, Taylor, Texas 76574.