Ottilia “Tillie” Frances Zarosky

Ottilia “Tillie” Frances Zarosky (Meme) was born June 14, 1929, in Cameron, and passed away on March 3, 2019, in Houston.

Tillie and her siblings were raised by her grandmother and relatives upon the passing of her mother when she was only three years old until her dad remarried. She graduated from Yoe High School in 1948 in Cameron. She participated in many sports and extra-curricular activities such as choir and homemaking.

She married Edward “Ed” Zarosky on May 10, 1952. Upon Ed’s discharge from the Air Force, Tillie and Ed moved to the Houston Heights in 1955, where they raised their family of four children. Tillie was a full-time housewife and mother until her two youngest sons started Junior High School. At that time, Tillie began working in the food service industry for Houston Independent School District (HISD) until her retirement.

Tillie was very active in her parish. She was a member of the Altar Society for All Saints Catholic Church in the Heights. Tillie was a long time member of both the KJZT fraternity and the SPJST Lodge in recognition of her Czech heritage. Tillie and Ed were married for almost 53 years until his death in 2005. Tillie continued to live in the Houston Heights until the summer of 2014.  She spent the last few years of her life living in Independent/Assisted living facilities in the Cypress area making many new friends and relationships with the caregivers at each place.

Tillie (Meme) is preceded in death by her loving husband, Edward F. Zarosky; great-grandson, Wade Allen Smith; her parents; four brothers; and one sister.

Ottilia is survived by her children, Elizabeth Spillars and husband Doug, Albert Zarosky and wife Lisa, Daniel Zarosky and wife Theresa, and Walter Zarosky and wife Alanna; sister, Anna Mae Hubnik; sister-in-law, Agnes (Zarosky) Tepera; sister-in-law, Dorothy (Dot) Mikula; 14 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Her family will receive friends and loved ones for visitation in Houston from 5-8 p.m. with a Rosary service to be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, 2019, at Klein Funeral Home, 9719 Wortham Blvd., Houston, TX 77065 and in Cameron from 8-9:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 7, 2019, at Marek, Burns, Laywell Funeral Home, 2800 N. Travis Ave., Cameron, TX 76520. A funeral mass for Ottilia will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 7, 2019, at Sts. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church in Marak followed by a burial at the church’s cemetery.