Doris Strauss

Doris Venglar Strauss, a God-fearing Catholic lady who loved life, laughter, and dancing entered eternal rest surrounded by her family on January 7, 2023, at the age of 92.

The youngest of eight children, Doris was born to Karolina Cervenka Venglar and Paul P. Venglar in Fayetteville, Tx, a Moravian Czech community, on February 3, 1930. She was very proud of her Czech heritage and community where hard work and church involvement was the way of life, while music, dancing, and singing being the entertainment. Unbeknownst to many, Doris did not know a word of English until she attended the Osveta one room schoolhouse at the age of 6.  After her eighth-grade year, the family moved to Egypt, Tx, where she graduated from Crescent High School in 1947. She continued to speak, read, and write Czech her entire lifetime.

In 1948, Doris married Otto J. Strauss and they had 4 children.  In 1966, her self-proclaimed best decision was realized when she moved to Caldwell, Tx, another strong Czech community, where she made lifelong friends. She was a civil servant for the USDA Farmer’s Home Administration for 30 years. After retirement, she was a demonstrator for different companies to allow for continued social involvement.  However, in 1997 she found her dream job at Strickland Funeral Home where she greeted, assisted, and comforted the citizens of Burleson County until she retired at the age of 89.

Music and dancing on floors covered in wood shavings continued to be her passions.  Upon a visit, one may hear her beloved polkas, waltzes, Ray Price, Charley Pride, Jim Reeves, Bobby Flores, Don Ho, Daniel O’Donnell, or possibly Pavarotti in the air. One of her greatest joys was listening to polka music on the radio each Sunday afternoon.  Another passion of hers was using her green thumb and keeping a manicured yard at her home that welcomed birds, butterflies, and frogs, her favorite creatures. She was proud and thrilled when it was once selected as “Yard of the Month”.  She was happy giving tours to show the different foliage including the antique rose bush that grew from a cutting she received from her mother.  Her artistic skills were shown through painting ceramics including wet and dry brushing.  This started with making a nativity scene in 1950. Her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren enjoyed receiving her lifelike creations as gifts. She used this skill to repair the nativity scene displayed at St. Mary’s Our Lady of Lourdes Church.

To say Doris lived a full life would be an understatement.  She loved to travel be it by plane, train, automobile, motorcycle, or hot air balloon. In 1995, she fulfilled a dream of visiting the Czech Republic.  Involvement in Czech and church organizations continued to be important.  She belonged to Burleson County Czech Heritage Society, Burleson County Czech Singers, Sons of Herrmann, RVOS, and participated in the annual Kolache Festival for many years.  At St. Mary’s Our Lady of Lourdes church, she was a member of the Altar Society, KJZT, St. Mary’s Women’s Club, Parish Council, Rosary Society, Clerical Endowment Fund Chairman, Cemetery Committee and was a Eucharistic Minister.  Other activities included being a blood donor for 50 years, Caldwell Recreation Association Board of Directors Secretary/Treasurer, Girl Scout leader, handmaking costumes for her children’s school activities, a member of the Red Hats of Somerville, and was recognized as Burleson County Citizen of the Year in 2007.

Survivors include daughters Beverly Broaddus and husband Bill, Rebecca Strauss and husband Larry Montoya all of Caldwell, Tammi Lambert of Knollwood, her son David Strauss and wife Carolyn of Austin.  Her 5 grandchildren include Brian Broaddus and wife Jennifer of Caldwell, Bradley Broaddus and wife Katie of Round Rock, Stephen Strauss and wife Meghan of Austin, Kathryn Meyeres and husband Brenton of Austin, and Christopher Lambert of Knollwood. She was blessed with 10 great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Per her request, Doris’ body was donated to UT Southwestern School of Medicine.  There will be a visitation at Strickland Funeral Home from 8am until 8pm on January 27, 2023 with family present from 5-8 pm and rosary starting at 7.  On January 28, 2023, a memorial Mass will begin at 10:30am at St. Mary’s Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Caldwell, Tx with Fr. Melvin Dornak officiating with the assistance of Deacons John Young and Godson Dennis Kutach.

The family would like to extend many thanks to the staff at CHI St. Joseph’s Hospital System, as well as all the healthcare professionals who helped her over the years.  We appreciate the excellent and loving care she received from the staff at Copperas Hollow Skilled Nursing and Rehab.  Also, the visits, flowers, and phone calls from faithful friends and family meant the world to her and she spoke of them with a smile in her voice and are much appreciated.

In lieu of flowers, Doris asked that memorial gifts be made to St. Mary’s Cemetery Association or St. Mary’s Altar Society 500 W. O.S.R., Caldwell  77836, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital  P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN  38101-9929.