Kessel

Funeral services for Edna Loraine (Matthijetz) Kessel, 90, of La Grange will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in La Grange with Rev. Jason Kaspar officiating. Burial will follow at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church Cemetery in Winchester.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. at Koenig-Belvill Funeral Home in La Grange. The family will be present for visitation Thursday evening from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Edna Loraine (Matthijetz) Kessel was born on Dec. 19, 1934 in Winchester to Carl August and Anna (Jakobeit) Matthijetz. She was baptized on Dec. 30, 1934 at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church by Rev. Louis Trinklein.

She was confirmed on April 10, 1949 at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester by Rev. George Heinemeyer. Her confirmation verse was Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Edna was united in marriage to Bernard Paul John Kessel of Serbin on Aug. 20, 1955 at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester by Rev. Walter Streicher. Their wedding verse was Proverbs 3:6 “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.“ Edna worked for Steck Company in Austin, The Rein Company in Houston, and Standard Register Company in Houston, all of which were publishing companies. Her hard work was rewarded when she was promoted to supervisor at Standard Register. She retired after 35 years in publishing. In her retirement, she loved working at Second Chance alongside other volunteers from Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church.

Edna was very close to her “Sustas.” Oh the fun they had when they were together.

Edna and Bernard did not have any children of their own. She filled that void by dearly loving all of her nieces and nephews. Whenever possible she addressed them by their first and middle name. (Lorie Ann, Becky Jo, Rodger Steve). She treasured baking cookies and goodies for them. She enjoyed letting them come over to spend the night, creating fond memories that they will always remember.

One evening she invited nephews Raymond, Rodger Steve, Reid and Larry to spend the night. They decided how fun it would be to jump on the bed. The slats in the bed broke and fell to the ground. Rodger Steve said “‘Aint’ Edna, you want I should get a hammer and nail it up?” She loved telling that story.

Edna was the youngest of eight children. She was the life of the party. And she loved surprising others with mischief and embellished holiday spirits.

As a little girl, she was known to get her brothers and sisters in trouble by making them laugh at the dinner table - something that was not allowed. Papa Matthijetz was hard of hearing, so he couldn’t hear Edna’s little snickers and whispers, but he could hear Max and Marie laugh out loud and they got in trouble. As the little sister, Edna didn’t get in trouble, but the older ones should’ve known better.

She loved to sing and dance and tell jokes. As her memory failed over the years, she would mix up most of the words to her favorite Red Foley song, “Once I was a Guitar Picker.” She sang it wrong every time, but she was consistent… If you know, you know.

Edna passed away on Jan. 10, 2025 at 10:15 a.m. in Weimar.

Edna was preceded in death by her parents, Carl August and Anna (Jakobeit) Matthijetz; her husband, Bernard Paul John Kessel; three sisters, Erna Christine (Matthijetz) Cox and her husband William Reid “Bill” Cox, Lillie Josephine (Matthijetz) Menge Diller and her first husband Roy Menge, Rose Marie (Matthijetz) Herzog Killian and husbands Alvin Herzog and Arnold Killian, four brothers, Norman “Hugo” Matthijetz and wife Clara Matilda (Lehmann) Matthijetz, Carl “Ernst” Matthijetz, Wilbert Henry “Whip” Matthijetz, and Max Arthur Matthijetz; brother- in-law, Alvin Kessel; nephews, Rodger Steve Matthijetz, Stanley Paul Herzog and Kenneth Schulz; and an infant niece, Tina Marie Herzog.

She is survived by sisterin- laws, Laura (Behrens) Matthijetz of Winchester and Mildred Schulz of Cedar Park; brother-in-law, Wesley Thomas Diller of La Grange; nephews, Raymond Floyd Matthijetz and wife Sandra of Winchester, William “Reid” Cox Jr. and wife Ann of South Carolina, Larry Wayne Herzog and wife Glenda Ruth (Taylor) of Winchester, Steven Schulz of Austin, Jim Schutt of North Zulch, Rodney Schutt of Ft. Worth; nieces, Diane Fritsch of Ft. Worth, Annette Hammack of Leander, Pam Curtis of Cedar Park, Janet (Muckleroy) Matthijetz of Ledbetter; Lorie Ann (Herzog) Lehmann and husband Douglas Niel of Warda, Joyce Diane (Lehmann) Herzog of Winchester, Becky Jo (Matthijetz) Weise and husband Timothy John of Serbin; and many great nieces and nephews, family and friends.

Memorials can be made to Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church; St. Michael’s Lutheran Church; or a charity of your choice.

Family and friends can view and sign the guestbook online at www.lagrangefunerals. com.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Koenig-Belvill Funeral Home & Cremations in La Grange.