Mary Agnes Kozel Grahmann, 97, of Hallettsville, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, September 12, 2021.  She was born on January 7, 1924 in (Bluff) LaGrange, TX to the late Charles and Marie Kozel and was the 2nd of 10 children.

Mary was raised on a dairy farm and had to get up before sunrise to help get all the milking done before starting the 4 mile walk to school.  They had no electricity or indoor plumbing so they used an outhouse and had to carry water from an outside well. Since money was tight, Mary learned to cook and sew her own clothes at an early age. One of Mary's favorite chores was canning pickles and helping take care of the spring and fall garden.  She would ride with her father to other dairy farms to pick up milk to sell to the Carnation plant in Schulenburg.  Despite only attending school to the 8th grade, she learned to write and speak Czech and was an avid reader.

In December 1946, Mary and her family moved to Hostyn, TX to a bigger dairy farm with silos, and eventually bought a battery-operated generator which ran lights, a washing machine, and milking machines for the cattle.  Life was not easy for the family but their Faith was a large part of all they did.  They attended church by horse and buggy every Sunday.

Mary moved to Houston where she was a cafe manager, a seamstress making bride maid's dresses, and later worked at the Coca Cola Bottling Company.   Mary moved back home and got a job at her brother-in-law's café working as a waitress. This is where she met her future husband Hubert Grahmann and went to a dance on their first date.   They dated for about two years before getting married on June 18, 1952.  They had 7 children and eventually settled in the Saint Mary's area near Hallettsville.  They would go dancing, visiting with family and friends, and played dominoes.   Mom played dominoes until she was 95 and took no mercy on anyone.  Grace remembers thinking, "I'll take it easy on her".   They played to 500 and she won, while Grace had only 270 points and grandson Derek only had 210 points.  She smoked them both.

Mary was a very talented woman. She not only enjoyed gardening; she grew enough to feed her family of 9. She made excellent homemade bread, apple strudels, dewberry pies, and kolaches, which she was well known for.   She said she was about 12 when she first learned to make kolaches.  Her mom was busy and told her to do it. She did, and hers were better than her mom's, so it was her job from then on. She enjoyed canning fruit and vegetables.  She made dewberry, wild plum, peach, and the grandkids favorite, strawberry jelly.  She would tackle anything inside and outside the home.  She helped Hubert with farming and ranching. When he was at work, she managed the farm until he and the kids got home. She could drive the tractor as well as anyone. Mom believed in the moon signs and would tell Daddy when to plant in the fields or work cattle. She also used the moon signs to schedule surgeries and told him when to have both his knee replacements.  It must have worked because he did great with both of his knees.   She made homemade wine out of wild mustang grapes.  The kids thought it was especially good because they would sneak a bottle out every now and then and drink it when they were supposed to be in the field chopping weeds.   Mom would sew the girls a new dress for Easter and Christmas and later made baby receiving blankets for the grandkids and great grandkids as well as costumes for school plays.   In addition to home cooked meals, Mom made homemade ice cream, and of course everyone had to take a turn turning the ice cream churn.  Mom even made furniture.  With hand tools, she made a baby crib with folding legs that could be taken along as a bassinet.  Six of her seven kids were raised in that crib, as well as most of the grandkids and a few of the great grandkids too.  She also made a vanity/dresser which she used until she was in her 90's.   Did we mention Mom was a doctor also?   Well, she didn't have a formal degree but that didn't stop her from taking care of whatever ailed you.  She had all kinds of home remedies and even stitched up Mike's chin once.  She said "I can sew just as good, if not better than the Dr".   She would clip recipes and articles about anything from gardening tips to religious teachings and give to her grown kids regarding things she thought they needed to work on.  She was always praying the Rosary and praying for her family.   She never missed an opportunity to go to the grandkid's birthday parties, school events, etc. Everything revolved around God and family with Mom.  Pink was Mom's favorite color.  Grace would bring her carnations to the nursing home.  The first time, Gene carried them in to her room.   Some days she didn't remember her daughter's name, but if asked she would tell you Gene Rees brought her flowers. Listen up guys, no matter how old you are: A woman notices when a man gives her flowers!  She was a jack of all trades and a master of all.  She was a member of the Christian Mothers and KJZT.

Mom and dad were married for 60 years until he passed on June 26, 2012. After that mom lived at home by herself until she was 90 years old. She then went to live with Diana for about 5 years until she broke her arm, then resided in the nursing home for the next 2 1/2 years.

Mary is survived by:  her seven children, Michael (Susan Grahmann), Katherine (Richard) Scherlen, Patrick Grahmann, Dominic (Josephine) Grahmann, Diana (Mike) DeLaRosa, Christine Grahmann (James Kasper), Grace (Gene) Rees; grandchildren, Eric (Cheritan) Grahmann, Loretta (Michael) Escobar, Quentin (Korrie) Grahmann, Michelle (Christopher) Landrum, Sandra (Jarrod) Compton, Dawn (Adam) Jahn, Ross Grahmann, Ashley (Jake) Griffiths, Brittany DeLaRosa, Cody (Vanessa) DeLaRosa, Daelynn (Keyshawn) Battle, Dillon (Mary Katherine) Rees, Dustin Rees and Derek Rees; great grandchildren: McKenzie Grahmann, Zander Grahmann, Connor Landrum, Paige Landrum, Mary Compton, Jane Compton, Madison Griffiths, Elizabeth Griffiths, Kensleigh Sanchez, Lilyanna Rees, and Dallas Rees; and brothers & sisters, Frances Holan, Beatrice Janecka, Lillie Vecera, Albert Kozel and John Kozel..

Mary was preceded in death by:  husband; parents; 3 brothers, Br. Raphael Kozel, Joe Kozel and Alois Kozel; sister, Sr. Annie Kozel; 2 grandchildren, Ryan & Christopher Grahmann; and great grandchild Ethan Griffiths.

Funeral Mass Service: 10:30 am, Friday, September 17, 2021, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Hallettsville. Visitation: 4 pm Thursday at Kubena Funeral Home with Rosary starting at 7 pm. Pallbearers: her Grandsons and grandson-in-laws. Officiant: Msgr. John Peters. Burial: St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Memorials: donor's choice.