Verna Prebilske
Verna Pawlawski Prebilske, 91 of Port O’Connor passed away December 30, 2015. She was born September 12, 1924 in Chappell Hill, to the late Joseph and Rosie Gurka Pawlawski.
Verna is survived by her daughters, Debbie Albrecht (George), Verna Lynn Fore (Kenny); sisters, Wanda DeLuke, Florence Kubeczka (Harry), Ann Black (Donald), and Rosemary Adler; grandchildren, Steven Flannigan, Ryan Fore and Melissa Albrecht; step-grandchildren, Eric Moody, and George “Buster” Albrecht, Jr.; great-grandchildren, Kyleigh Fore, Peyton Fore, and Ronin Fore.
In addition to her parents, Verna was preceded in death by her husband, Steve Charles Prebilske; son, Steven Wayne Prebilske; sisters, Cecilia Vollmer, Frances Phillips, and Gertrude Pawlawski; brothers, Frank Pawlawski, Edmund Pawlawski, Henry Pawlawski, and Theodore Pawlawski.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 4, 2016 at the Richardson Colonial Chapel. Burial followed at the Port O’Connor Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Calvin Dodd, David Ray, Darryl Ray, Larry Kubeczka, Lonnie Black and Michael Black.
If so desired memorial donations may be made to the Port O’Connor Volunteer Fire Department.
Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.richardsoncolonial.com
Verna was born in Chappell Hill, Texas to first generation Polish immigrants. She was the oldest of eight girls in a family of 12 siblings. She grew up in meager beginnings in a house with a dirt floor where her meals were made on a wood burning stove. The family made their living sharecropping cotton and Verna was responsible to pick her share.
In her late teens Verna moved to Houston to find work. She was very proud to have found a job serving her country as a ship welder and later packaging meat at the Hormel Packing House that delivered those goods to the soldiers in active duty overseas. Verna also worked as a carhop at the famous “Prince’s Drive In’ in Downtown Houston.
In 1947, she married a soldier returning from his tour in the Pacific named Steve Prebilske, who was originally from Brenham. The Prebilske’s lived in Houston and raised three children, Verna Lynn, Steven Wayne and Debbie Kay. They were blessed with 51 years of marriage.
In the late 60’s their love of fishing brought them to Port O’Connor. They built and ran Verna’s Motel until 1997. They both remained in Port O’Connor until their deaths.
Verna loved fishing, hunting and gardening. She also enjoyed canning, sewing, quilting and dancing. In younger years, she and Steve were known to win quite a few jitterbug contests.
She loved all her family and friends. Chances are if you stopped by for a visit, you did not leave empty handed. Perhaps you sat down for a slice of homemade pie, or left with a jar of jelly, or if you were really lucky, a jar of her Polish pickles.
Verna was a strong-willed, feisty, independent and caring woman with a great sense of humor and a heart of gold. The Lord blessed her with 91 years on this earth. She will be greatly missed.
Pictures of Verna and family can be viewed at richardsoncolonial.com .
