Obituary for Anna Marie Meek
Anna Marie Meek, 99, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 21, in Waco. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Louis Catholic Church and burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 – 6 p.m., Sunday, October 25, at OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Blvd., followed at 6 p.m. with a rosary service.
Anna was born September 7, 1921, in Waco, to Francis Phillip and Selma (Brossman) Czichos. She attended Sacred Heart Academy and graduated from Waco High School in 1939. It was at Waco High that she met her soul mate, Thomas G. Meek, and her lifelong friend, Agatha George. Thomas served in the Navy during WWII and, when he returned, he married Anna on June 9, 1946 in the rectory of St. Mary’s Church of the Assumption in Waco, with Agatha by her side.
They began a family with daughter, Diana and son, Ronald. Anna cared for the two small children when Thomas was commissioned back into the Navy during the Korean War where he was stationed on the USS Essex and USS Lexington aircraft carriers. Upon Thomas’ arrival home, the couple created a loving home for themselves, and later added daughter, Janet to complete the family. Anna re-entered the work world, and retired from Sears in 1982 after more than 20 years of service.
Retirement truly provided the couple’s “golden years.” They indulged their passion for travel, and also became active community volunteers. In 1995, the Knights of Columbus awarded Mr. and Mrs. Meek the “Family of the Year” award, and in 1999 the Waco Conference of Christians and Jews chose them as “Family of the Year” for their volunteer work in the community. They are charter members of St. Louis Catholic Church.
During her lifetime, Anna served as president of Providence Health Center Auxiliary; volunteer at the Veteran’s Affairs Regional Medical Center and Regis/St. Elizabeth Center; member of the Knights of Columbus Ladies’ Auxiliary; and officer of KJZT #117.
Even during the valleys of life: the death of a child, a major house fire and Thomas’s struggle with diabetes, their strong faith and love for God, their family, and each other remained true and steadfast. Her husband, Thomas, died in 2004 after the couple had celebrated 58 years of marriage. Anna wrote in her journal: “Thomas always said I was the best thing that ever happened to him. But he was the best thing that ever happened to me. He gave me 58 years of a wonderful married life. We had a great life together!”
In addition to her husband, Anna was preceded in death by her daughter, Diana Sue Meek and son, Ronald Barry Meek; brother and sister-in-law, Raymond L. and Madge Czichos; and nephew, Raymond W. Czichos.
She is survived by her daughter, Janet Jones and husband, Calvin; granddaughter, Laura Mayberry and husband, Aaron of Conifer, CO; grandson, Travis Kemp and wife, Jamie of Waco; granddaughter, Haley Kemp of Houston; great-grandsons, Jacob Mayberry and Hayes Kemp; great-granddaughter, Alyssa Mayberry; a fourth great-grandbaby due in April; nieces, Gene Larson and Joanne White; and nephew, Carroll Czichos, all of Wimberley; and several great nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the staff at St. Catherine Neighborhood 4 and Dianne Dixon for their compassionate care for Anna.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to St. Louis Catholic Church, 2001 N. 25th St. in Waco, 76708.
Sign her guestbook at www.oakcrestwaco.com
Anna was born September 7, 1921, in Waco, to Francis Phillip and Selma (Brossman) Czichos. She attended Sacred Heart Academy and graduated from Waco High School in 1939. It was at Waco High that she met her soul mate, Thomas G. Meek, and her lifelong friend, Agatha George. Thomas served in the Navy during WWII and, when he returned, he married Anna on June 9, 1946 in the rectory of St. Mary’s Church of the Assumption in Waco, with Agatha by her side.
They began a family with daughter, Diana and son, Ronald. Anna cared for the two small children when Thomas was commissioned back into the Navy during the Korean War where he was stationed on the USS Essex and USS Lexington aircraft carriers. Upon Thomas’ arrival home, the couple created a loving home for themselves, and later added daughter, Janet to complete the family. Anna re-entered the work world, and retired from Sears in 1982 after more than 20 years of service.
Retirement truly provided the couple’s “golden years.” They indulged their passion for travel, and also became active community volunteers. In 1995, the Knights of Columbus awarded Mr. and Mrs. Meek the “Family of the Year” award, and in 1999 the Waco Conference of Christians and Jews chose them as “Family of the Year” for their volunteer work in the community. They are charter members of St. Louis Catholic Church.
During her lifetime, Anna served as president of Providence Health Center Auxiliary; volunteer at the Veteran’s Affairs Regional Medical Center and Regis/St. Elizabeth Center; member of the Knights of Columbus Ladies’ Auxiliary; and officer of KJZT #117.
Even during the valleys of life: the death of a child, a major house fire and Thomas’s struggle with diabetes, their strong faith and love for God, their family, and each other remained true and steadfast. Her husband, Thomas, died in 2004 after the couple had celebrated 58 years of marriage. Anna wrote in her journal: “Thomas always said I was the best thing that ever happened to him. But he was the best thing that ever happened to me. He gave me 58 years of a wonderful married life. We had a great life together!”
In addition to her husband, Anna was preceded in death by her daughter, Diana Sue Meek and son, Ronald Barry Meek; brother and sister-in-law, Raymond L. and Madge Czichos; and nephew, Raymond W. Czichos.
She is survived by her daughter, Janet Jones and husband, Calvin; granddaughter, Laura Mayberry and husband, Aaron of Conifer, CO; grandson, Travis Kemp and wife, Jamie of Waco; granddaughter, Haley Kemp of Houston; great-grandsons, Jacob Mayberry and Hayes Kemp; great-granddaughter, Alyssa Mayberry; a fourth great-grandbaby due in April; nieces, Gene Larson and Joanne White; and nephew, Carroll Czichos, all of Wimberley; and several great nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the staff at St. Catherine Neighborhood 4 and Dianne Dixon for their compassionate care for Anna.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to St. Louis Catholic Church, 2001 N. 25th St. in Waco, 76708.
Sign her guestbook at www.oakcrestwaco.com