Erna Jean Hlavaty

Erna Jean Hlavaty (Walther) passed away peacefully while surrounded by her family on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at the age of 84.

Born in December 1940 in Pearland, Texas, as the oldest of 6 children to Robert and Josephine (Kremling) Walther, Jean grew up on a rice farm surrounded by faith, family, and love. She graduated from Pearland High School in 1959, and in 1961 she met the love of her life, Andrew (Andy) Hlavaty. They married on October 19, 1963, and went on to share 62 years together and raise a family.

Jean loved to cook and host holidays at their home, and everyone was always welcome at the table for a meal. Her favorite holidays to host were Thanksgiving and Christmas, where she always cooked a full spread of holiday favorites, cookies, desserts and was most famous for her cornbread dressing.

Over the years Jean worked as a secretary in various companies and entered into her retirement years when she left the University of Houston in 1992 after 13 years.

In 1975 Jean converted to Catholicism and was confirmed at St. Helen’s Catholic Church in Pearland, TX. In 2005, she and Andy moved to Somerville, TX where they attended St. Ann’s Catholic Church together for 20 years until her passing.

Jean is preceded in death by her father, Robert August Walther; her mother, Josephine Dorothy Walther; and her brother Robert Emil Walther, who passed away in infancy.

Jean is survived by her husband, Andrew; her daughter, Carol; and her son, Charles. In addition, she is survived by her brother, Johnnie Walther (Frances); her sisters Susan Keys, Joyce Mahanay, and Gloria Earles (Buddy), along with many other beloved brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, cousins, relatives and dear friends.

Rosary and Visitation will be held at Strickland Funeral Home in Somerville, TX (545 8th St, Somerville, TX 77879) from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. Rosary begins at 7:00 pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Ann’s Catholic Church (333 Thornberry Dr, Somerville, TX 77879) on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 11:00 am. Interment will follow at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery in Frenstat, TX (8610 FM 2774 Caldwell, TX 77836) at 12:30 pm. A reception will be held at St. Ann’s Catholic Church Parish Hall immediately following. (333 Thornberry Dr, Somerville, TX 77879).

The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made in Jean’s name to the St. Ann’s Catholic Church Building Fund to support the church community she loved and served. Their address is PO Box 99, Somerville, TX 77879.