Mildred Pauline Heinrich Hlavaty was born on April 12, 1930 to Joseph Anton and Emma Miksch Heinrich in Slaton, Texas. She was fifth among seven children with two older sisters, Irene and Ermalee and two older brothers, Werner and Cletus. She helped raise her younger sister, Margaret and brother, Joe D. growing up on the family farm.

At 18, she entered the convent in St. Louis, Missouri as a novitiate, but left after 18 months. She took a business clerical course and learned shorthand and skills useful in the business world. She worked in the Lubbock county office for a couple of years before marriage.  On May 11, 1954, she married Arthur Lee Hlavaty and moved to San Antonio, Texas to live and raise 5 children; Karen, Mark, Vicki, Lee and Darrell.

Mildred raised the children until Darrell entered first grade. At that point, she took up part time clerical work in an insurance company and later began working at the Catholic Chancery for the Archbishop in San Antonio.

When Art's work took him to Houston, she moved the children still in school with her to Houston in July, 1974. That same year, Art was diagnosed with inoperable throat cancer that would claim his life on August 26, 1976. Throughout his illness, Mildred nursed him at home with loving care, night and day, with the support of the Visiting Nurse Association, in the days before hospice care was available.

After Art's death, Mildred immediately went to work as a clerk at a field office of the Visiting Nurse's Association. Over the next 20 years, she moved up through the ranks ending her career serving as Executive Secretary for the CEO for many years until she retired in 1995.

Mildred continued to live in her home in Houston, near some of her children and grandchildren. In 2005, she moved from her home to The Village at Incarnate Word where she had visited a favorite aunt many years before and always knew she would love to live.  Mildred made many friends and enjoyed the camaraderie of the sisters, hearkening back to her love of the religious life.

When she needed help to care for herself in her apartment, the loving care of the Sisters Care program was a blessing. In 2014, Mildred was moved closer to her oldest daughter living in New Braunfels and she entered Sundance Inn there, eventually entering hospice care with Hope Hospice.  She passed away peacefully on February 28, 2017.

She is survived by two sisters, Erma Lee Schilling and Margaret Bednarz and her five children, nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren. She was deeply loved by all who knew her and will live on in many hearts and memories.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Monday, March 6, 2017

St. Joseph's Chapel at The Village at Incarnate Word

Visitation period from 10:00am-11:00am

Recitation of the Rosary at 11:00 A.M.

Funeral Mass offered at 11:30 A.M.

A reception will follow

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Interment will be held in the

Houston National Cemetery

Houston, Texas

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to

Hope Hospice in New Braunfels and

The Village at Incarnate Word Legacy Fund