Victoria Wendt

Tollie was born on January 17, 1911 in Bremond, Texas to Michael Gorski and Mary Knast Gorski. She was the fourth of twelve children. Her brothers and sisters were Rosie Bart, Katherine Burke, Frank Gorski, Ike Gorski, Helen Colville, Jonnie Sefcik, Margaret Natho, Sophie Gorski, Verna Blakeslee and Floyd Gorski. All but Verna Blakeslee preceded Tollie in death. In addition to Verna, Tollie is survived by her daughter, Barabara Ostrom, her son Douglas Wendt, her daughter in law Patricia Wendt, her five grandchildren and eleven great grand children. She was married to Henry Joseph Wendt in Houston, Texas and they were married almost forty years. In October of 1980, Henry passed away and Tollie became the matriarch of the family, bringing her family together every Sunday for meals well into her 90's. Her meals always included fried chicken, okra, home made noodles, polish foods, and pies, among other dishes. Tollie attended a Polish grade school in Bremond, Texas, but never finished. As was common for many children of her generation, she was needed around the farm. Catholic education was, however, extremely important to her and she made sure her children, Barbara and Douglas, received one all the way through high school. Born in 1911, Tollie lived the history of the 20th Century that so many of us can now only read about in books. She was an infant when the Titanic sank, and a young child during World War I. She recounted stories to her daughter and son about experiencing the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. She loved Franklin Roosevelt. During World War II she was a civilian seamstress sewing uniforms for the military. Her passion for sewing continued throughout her life as she would make clothes for her daughter. Her hobbies included cooking, gardening and sewing. But most important to her was her family. She loved having her family around and her family loved being around her. She will be missed! A viewing will take place on Thursday, June 4th at 9:00 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 3600 Brinkman Street, Houston, Texas 77018, followed by a Mass at 10:00 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. The Rite of Burial will take place at Forest Park Lawndale, 6900 Lawndale Street, Houston, Texas 77023, immediately following the Mass. The family would like to offer a special thanks to the nursing teams of both Autumn Grove Cottage in the Heights and Amed Hospice for their loving care.

Victoria Wendt

May 30, 2015