Ella Mae Bludau of Hallettsville passed away on February 11, 2024, at the age of 92, following a long-term battle with Parkinson's Disease.  She was born on the family's homeplace, on September 7, 1931, to the late Roman F. & Eleanora (Klekar) Rainosek.  She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters, KJZT #2, Christian Mothers and Lavaca Czech Heritage of Texas.

In her early life, Ella Mae attended country schools in Hallettsville (Thompson School) and Victoria (Clark School), high school at Nazareth Academy, Victoria her freshman year and graduated in 1950 from St. Ludmila Catholic School, Shiner, Texas.  She married Erwin J. Bludau, Sr. on February 9, 1953. Ella Mae and Erwin raised 6 kids and lots of cattle, and grew a variety of crops such as tomatoes, watermelons, corn, cotton, cantaloupes and milo.

Shortly after her high school graduation, Ella Mae entered the Vocational Nursing program at Renger Memorial Hospital.  She worked at the Renger Memorial Hospital, Renger Clinic, Lavaca Medical Center and Stevens Nursing and Rehab Center.  She also worked private duty, having the honor of taking care of her former employer and instructor, Dr. Harvey Renger, and many others.  She worked in her profession for over 53 years.  During her nursing profession, she was an active member of the Texas League of LVN's, serving on many different committees.  She served on the Advisory Board of the Victoria College Vocational Nursing program and the Zelda L. Allen Vocational School of Hallettsville.  She served as president and treasurer of the DeWitt and Lavaca Component LVN for many years, treasurer of the Dr. Harvey Renger Sr., Nursing Student Scholarship Fund and other scholarship committees and was a member of the Lavaca Hospital Auxiliary.

Ella Mae loved making homemade chocolate-chip cookies, pecan and dewberry pies, Easter Bunny cakes, and a wide assortment of candy; with fudge and divinity being the favorites among the family.  She loved gardening, and canning pickles and jellies.  Her homemade jelly brought record prices at the Sacred Heart picnics.  The grandkids loved her Thanksgiving Dressing, especially, making the Dressing with her during the Thanksgiving holidays.  She loved traveling, especially the religious pilgrimages to Europe.  She brought back many rosaries, and she also prayed the rosary daily for the family.  She also loved getting together with family, especially spending time with family in Rockport, Texas.  She planted a palm tree that grew for many years and reminded the family of the good times at the coast.

Ella Mae lived a long life with many blessings; however, she overcame many challenges in her life.  She lost her Mom when she was only six, attended numerous schools, and took care of her husband as he struggled with Alzheimer's disease when he was in his 50s and she was in her late 40s and into her 50s.

Ella Mae is survived by:  5 sons, Glen "Blue" Bludau, Daryl "Hound" Bludau, Bruce "Blackie" (Karen) Bludau, Ervin "Sprout" (Karen) Bludau Jr., Brian "Buck" (Janice) Bludau; daughter, Sheila (Richard) Klimitchek; 11 grandchildren, Aaron (Rhonda) Bludau, Brooke (Jared) Meinkowsky, Kadee (Matt) Hoffman, Colton Bludau, McKenzie Bludau, Sadie Bludau, Allie Bludau, Sam Bludau, Alyson (Stephen) Grahmann, Amy (Drew) Marcak, and Adrienne Klimitchek; 10 great grandchildren, Emily, Blake, Lauren Bludau, Ben, Luke, Ada and Julia Meinkowsky, Cameron Hoffmann, Aubrey and Warren Marcak.  She is survived by:  2 half-brothers, Paul and Joe Rainosek; and 6 half-sisters, JoAnn Orsak, Irene Farrington, Louise Keil, Frances Kanak, Mary Lee Sitka, and Nancy Pavlicek.

Ella Mae was preceded in death by:  her husband; her parents; her stepmother Josephine (Grahmann) Rainosek; her sister Ann (Chester) Rice; brother Roman R. Rainosek; 2 half-brothers, William and Dennis Rainosek; half-sister Georgie Mae Smith; and daughter-in-law Terry (Mitchon) Bludau.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Elrose Ehler, Sharon Foley, Steve & Amy Henry, D'wayne & Tracy Rice, Crown Hospice, and her caregivers at Stevens Nursing and Rehab Center.

Funeral Mass Service: 2:30 pm, Sunday, February 18, 2024, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Hallettsville; with Visitation starting at 12:30 pm; Rosary starting at 2 pm. Officiants: Msgr. John Peters and Msgr. Doug Fater. Pallbearers: Aaron Bludau, Colton Bludau, Sam Bludau, Jared Meinkowsky, Matt Hoffman, Stephen Grahmann, Drew Marcak, and Shane Rice. Memorials: may be made to the Sacred Heart School Operating Fund, Ervin and Ella Mae Bludau Sacred Heart School Scholarship, or donor's choice. Burial: Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Hallettsville.