Mom is finally out of pain!  She is at peace and at rest in the love of our hope and savior Jesus Christ.

Her over 25 year battle with the truly evil and sinister disease of Rheumatoid Arthritis is done.

Mom entered Heaven after 23 days in North Central Baptist Hospital and 7 days in VITAS Hospice.  Her immune system's ability to fight this insidious disease was finally overwhelmed.

Before this onslaught, Mom was a truly vivacious, active, outgoing extrovert who was a whirlwind of dance and romance.  She was 15 years old and on vacation in Rockport when she decided to stretch out on a rocking bench in front of the motel overlooking the Key Allegro Ski Basin.  Little did she know, a 16-year-old boy and a buddy drove by and noticed.  The 16 year old told the buddy "we're staying here tonight."  It was August, 1969.  Can you spell love at first sight?  Can you spell high school sweethearts?  Roe Traugott and Willette Schaper soon became glued at the hip.

Willette graduated from Highlands High School in 1972 and attended San Antonio College and St. Mary's University, studying art and interior design.  Before graduation, Willette joined a traveling troupe – the Kenwood Players.  They performed anti-drug skits and plays for Native-American high school youths in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona.

During the mid '70s she and Roe were apart, she traveling, and Roe in school in San Marcos and later UT-Austin.  Upon graduation Roe returned to San Antonio and they resumed their romance.  They married August 29, 1981, at the Congregation of Divine Providence Sacred Heart Chapel at OLLU.

Never apart since, until now- thirty seven and one-half years.

On September 28, 1989, a beautiful bundle of joy arrived two weeks early – Dana Lynn Traugott.

A devoted mom, Willette doted on the child's every need until the pain of this horrible disease took control in the early nineties.

The family thanks Dr. John Huff and Dr. Everett Allen of the Rheumatology Associates of South Texas for their service.  Thanks are also due to the comforting staff of VITAS Hospice.

Willette is survived by her husband Roe Traugott, daughter Dana Lynn, uncle Gene Hilscher and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Honored to carry Mom are brother-in-law Larry Karam, nephews Jerod Karam and Garett Karam, cousins Jeffery and Randy Joseph, and 48-year family friend Claude Simpson.

FUNERAL SERVICES