Agnes Sandelovic

Agnes Sandelovic, 77, of Texas City, died Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008 at home.

She was born Aug. 31, 1930 in Taiton to Vaclav J. Merta and Ludmila Kotyza Merta, emigrants to America from Czechoslovakia who came through the Port of Galveston near the turn of the century before settling on a farm in El Campo. Agnes was the youngest daughter of 14 children, and Czech was her first language.

She graduated from El Campo High School in 1948 and then went to work in Galveston for the Moody Hotel, where she met James H. McDonald, whom she married June 5, 1955 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Galveston. They lived in Texas City for most of their married life and raised four children, Sharon, Nancy, Randy and Tommy.

After James' death, Agnes was married to Rudy M. Sandelovic for 17 years until his death in 1998. Agnes was also employed at Mainland Center Hospital in Texas City on the postpartum unit until her retirement in 1991.

Agnes was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Texas City, the Catholic Daughters and various Czech organizations such as KJZT and RVOS. She was a loving and devoted mother and wife, a Proverbs 31 virtuous woman whose price was far above rubies. She "looked well to the ways of her household" and her children have "risen up and called her blessed."

She loved to sew and travel, and enjoyed touring the country with Rudy and traveling with family to visit relatives in the Czech Republic, including cousins and relatives in Dolni Roven and Hradec Kralove, near Prague. She has now traveled on to her eternal home with Jesus, to look upon the face of God. The last words on her lips were that of her Savior, "Jesus." She will be sorely missed by her family here on earth.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, James Harold McDonald; husband, Rudy Sandelovic; son, Tommy Ray McDonald who died in 1977; brothers, John Merta, James Merta, Joe Merta, Robert Merta and William Merta; and sisters, Christine Merta Kulcak, Mary Merta McDonald, Annie Merta Kulcak and Bessie Merta.

Survivors include her daughter, Sharon and her family including son-in-law, Joe Hensley Jr. of Texas City; grandsons Thomas Hensley and fiancé Casey Broxson, David Hensley and wife Rachel Hensley; great-grandchildren, Khamron Hensley, Sean Hensley, Alyssia Dieringer and Marcus Dieringer.

Agnes is also survived by a daughter, Nancy and son-in-law, Michael Chambers of Texas City; grandchildren, Jaime Powell, Jennifer and her husband Alan Johnson, Michael Chambers Jr. and Phillip and wife Jessica Chambers; great-grandchildren Dylan Powell, Jayce Johnson, Bailee Chambers, Avyree Chambers, Cassidy Chambers and Damian Chambers.

Agnes is also survived by her son, Randy McDonald and daughter-in-law Gayle of Tyler and their family, grandchildren, James McDonald, Laura McDonald, John McDonald, Lisa McDonald, Joel McDonald and Leah McDonald; and by brothers, Jerry Merta of El Campo and Charlie Merta and his wife Ella of El Campo; sisters, Rosalie Merta Smith of Galveston, and sister Elizabeth, and her husband Raymond Kacal of Bay City; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated today, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Texas City, Rev. Tom Ponzini, celebrant. Interment will follow at Galveston Memorial Park.

Pallbearers are Thomas Hensley, David Hensley, Michael Chambers Jr., Phillip Chambers, James McDonald, and John McDonald.

Honorary pallbearers are Alan Johnson, Joe Hensley Sr. and Paul Merta.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Agnes' devoted caregiver, Vikki Hardin and the staff at Right at Home and Hospice Care Team. We are also deeply grateful to Dr. Michelle Mercatante and Dr. Ned Snyder for their compassionate and expert care during her illness.

Memorials may be made in her name to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, P.O. Box 1931, Texas City, TX 77592.