Novaline Nell (Felfe) Woelfel

Novaline Nell (Felfe) Woelfel was born in her parent’s home, outside of Thorndale, on April, 20, 1932, to Amanda Sidonia (Lehman) and Oscar Walter Felfe.  She was baptized May 8, 1932, and confirmed in her faith at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Thorndale, and attended school at St. Paul Lutheran School and Thorndale High School. She was married to Louis (Sammy) Alton Woelfel on May 6, 1951.  She and Sammy enjoyed 66 years of marriage together.

Novaline was blessed with four daughters, Geneva, Sandra, Janet and Shirley. In time, she was blessed with four sons-in-law, 12 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and has another due to arrive in December. 

She owned and operated the Dairy Maid and was employed at Fashions and Relax Apperal, but she was a homemaker and gardener at heart. She cooked and baked with love and enjoyment, baking homemade bread every week of her married life. She loved feeding her family each Sunday after worship.  Her homemade pizza, corndogs, ice cream, pistachio pudding, crispy oat cookies, strawberry shortcake, and angel food birthday cakes are legendary. 

Novaline was a skilled seamstress, sewing clothing for herself, her family, and friends.She found great joy sewing matching dresses for her for daughters from flour sacks. She enjoyed making clothing for many children in her life. She sewed stuffed animals, and clothing for their dolls.  Some cherished items include handmade Barbie clothing and miniature furniture. 

Novaline loved to be outside working in her lawn and garden. If it bloomed or could be eaten, she took an interest in it. Her children and grandchildren rarely ate a store-bought can of vegetables, as she supplied the multitude with fresh home-grown vegetables and fruits. The children and grandchildren have memories of shelling English peas, butterbeans, and black eyed peas by the gallons each year and harvesting and blanching endless ears of corn from her large garden next to her home.  Novaline loved flowers, especially roses, azaleas, larkspurs, bachelor buttons, African violets, and petunias. She found great joy supplying flowers for St. Paul’s Easter cross for many years.

Novaline was a quiet and gentle soul, loving and giving selflessly.  She modeled Christ’s love daily by her demeanor, nightly Bible Study, and never missing a Sunday worship service.  She was a very hard working woman by nature, inheriting her mother’s tenacious work pace.  She almost never sat down, never quit moving, and never watched TV. God gave her lots to do and lots of family to love in this earthly life, and she made the most of every moment.

Novaline passed into eternal life on Nov. 13, 2017.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Floyd Felfe.

She is survived by her husband, Louis Woelfel; her daughters and their husbands, Geneva and Wally Meyer of Tampa, Fla., Sandra and Randy Kelm of Burleson, Janet and Roy Moss of Thorndale, and Shirley and Kevin Kelm of Thorndale. Her grandchildren are: Rachel Forman and husband Colin of Ferney, France; Corey Moss and wife Melanie of Thorndale; Laura Barton and husband Brad of Tampa, Fla.; Sara Watkins and husband Matt of Mansfield; Amber Parker and husband Mike of Norman, Okla.; Zachary Kelm and wife Diana of Rochester, Minn.; Allison Kelm of Thorndale; Steven Meyer and wife Karlyn of Chicago, Ill.; Angela Kelm of Corpus Christi; Kerri Moore and husband James of Thorndale; Nathaniel Kelm and wife Jessica of Keller; and Johanna Meyer of Wollongong, Australia. Her great-grandchildren are Cohen, Brock, Louis, Elisabeth, Kenedi, Ella, Sara, Micah, Luke, Elijah, Grace, Thomas, Ezekiel, Geneva and Emma.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017, from 6-8 p.m. at Providence Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, at 10 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 101 North 3^rd Street, Thorndale, TX  76577.

Gifts of remembrance can be given to St. Paul Lutheran Church & School, P.O. Box 369, Thorndale, TX 76577.