Marie Maxine Bennett Hermes went to be with the lord on January 1, 2022, at the age of 76.  She was born on April 1, 1945, to the late Maxie and Mary Evelyn Bennett and was the oldest of nine children.  Born and raised in Hallettsville, Marie married her true love, William "Buddy" Hermes on June 18, 1966.  She served as a homemaker and was an active member of her community as a member of the Catholic Daughters of Americas, Christian Mothers and a volunteer for the American Cancer Society.  She was a loving aunt, sister, mother and grandmother ("Rie-Rie").  She knew no strangers and was a friend to all.

Buddy first saw Marie at a feed store in Hallettsville, Texas.  This was obviously a sign of things to come.  After one month of dating, Buddy proposed on Christmas Eve after midnight mass.  He would spend the next fifty-five years coming up with comical ways to ruffle her feathers.  Buddy and Marie had two average sons and one extraordinary daughter.

Marie known as Rie-Rie to her children and grandchildren was a devout Catholic.  On a nightly basis she led the rosary and read from the bible with her family.  She made it a priority that her children attend religion class, mass every Sunday and all holy days of obligation.  She taught them that God and family was of upmost importance.  Family meant extended family, friends and neighbors that loved and treated us all as their own.

Rie-Rie inherited her mother's talent to cook and bake.  One of her traditions was to make Christmas cookies and fudge for family and friends.  She would let her children cut out cookies and sample a small portion of raw cookie dough.  Things could take a turn for the worse if she discovered someone "sampled" the nuts she shelled and kept hidden for her Christmas treats.

Rie-Rie had a love for music and her fondness for polka hour was well known.  She informed everyone that Garrett was musically talented by the way he was banging on a toy piano as a baby (no one else seemed to consider that noise talent).  She was so confident of this, she bought him his first guitar for his second birthday.

Marie enjoyed visiting on the phone and keeping up with the latest events.  She never met a stranger and always enjoyed parties.  She had an amazing way of remembering birthdays and sent cards for special occasions.  She was a collector of many things and had newspaper clippings of important events from everyone she loved.  Rie-Rie loved the color red and was extremely proud of a red rose bush that grew by the front porch for many years.

Her love for God, family and traditions will forever be cherished.

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love"- 1 Corinthians 13:13

Marie is survived by:  her loving husband Buddy; her three children, Kenneth (Arleen) Hermes, Frances Hermes Kirkland and Carl (Brenda) Hermes; five grandchildren, Clayton Heinrich, William Garrett Cisneros, Kendra Hermes, Hayden Hermes and Holden Hermes; six sisters; two brothers; and many nieces & nephews.

Marie is preceded in death by her parents.

Funeral Mass Service: 10 am, Friday, January 7, 2021, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church of Koerth, TX. Visitation starting at 5 pm, Thursday with Rosary starting at 7 pm, at Kubena Funeral Home. Pallbearers: Harvey Foster Jr., Kevin Tesch, Lawrence "Butch" Hermes, James Hermes, Clayton Heinrich and William Garrett Cisneros. Officiant: Msgr. John Peters. Burial: St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery. Memorials: Hospice of South Texas, Ezzell School - J.J. Pohl Memorial Scholarship or Donor's Choice.