Charlotte Rosalie Matula

Charlotte Rosalie Matula, 88, passed away on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. She was born on June 17, 1934, in Shreveport, Louisiana, the daughter of Charlotte Welch and Arthur Matula, Sr. Charlotte attended Catholic schools in Shreveport and Houston and finished at San Jacinto High School in 1952. She graduated from Louisiana State University where she was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority. She was an elementary school teacher for thirty-six years, having taught in Louisiana, New Jersey and Texas. Charlotte loved to travel, especially to Europe and particularly to Prague and Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic where one grandmother was born. Another favorite destination was Ireland which was the birthplace of her other grandmother. When her sister Maryanne and brother-in-law Earl Evans lived in London, she was often there to visit and tour with them, once taking her 89 year old father with her. She had many happy memories of trips both foreign and domestic with friends and family. Her favorite subject to teach in elementary school was language arts. Hooray for compositions—elaboration, figures of speech, adverbs, etc., etc., etc. What fun she had with so many wonderful and gifted students in her classroom (and sometimes the secret room) who made her work so rewarding. She loved meeting her former students later in life and hearing about their families and successes. Charlotte was always ready for an antique show and especially loved to antique in small Texas towns. Dusty old stores usually proved most interesting, never knowing what would be found and what she couldn’t live without. Collecting artbooks began years ago as an end-reward after seeing exhibitions. Collecting cookbooks happily followed and evolved over the years. She hardly met a cookbook she didn’t like or many times love. Watching LSU football was a happy autumn pastime and (almost) always a cause for celebration—years ago in Tiger Stadium and later in Houston on TV. Charlotte was an active member of St. Cecilia Catholic Church, the Charity Guild of Catholic Women, and the Czech Cultural Center of Houston. Charlotte was predeceased by her parents, her brother Arthur Matula, Jr., and her sister and brother-in-law, Maryanne and Earl Evans. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Audrey Matula and her two nephews, Keith Evans and wife Karen, and Jeff Evans. Also surviving her are great nieces Jenny and husband Jeff Cassidy, Emily and husband Bryan Overdyke and Rebecca and husband Matt Graham and great nephews John Evans and wife Meredith and Ryan Evans and wife Lauren. “C” is also survived by twelve very special great, great nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, June 20th, 2023, at 10:30 am at St. Cecilia Catholic Church (11720 Joan of Arc Drive, Houston, TX 77024). Fr. Mike Barrose will be the celebrant. A visitation for family and friends will immediately precede the mass at 9:30 in the church narthex. Charlotte will be buried close to her parents and family in Little Rock, Arkansas at a later date. The family would like to give special thanks to Charlotte’s devoted care givers, Sherry Kelly, Lillie Webster and Co-Shanna Moxey, the doctors and staff at Methodist Hospital and all of her special friends and neighbors on Traviata Drive, at The Tradition and all along her life’s journey. In lieu of flowers please make donations if desired to the Charity Guild of Catholic Women at 1203 Lovett, Houston, TX 77006-3857, the Czech Center Museum Houston at 4920 San Jacinto, Houston, TX 77004 or the charity of your choice.

Charlotte Rosalie Matula

June 17, 1934 - May 23, 2023