2-26-1948 to 8-21-2024
Carolyn Genzer Friend was born in Schulenburg on Feb. 26, 1948, to Alfons Joseph Genzer and Betty Genzer Walchar. She grew up there with her only sibling Alfons “Al” Genzer. Al married Margaret “Bunny” Genzer and they had two boys, Anthony Genzer and Nicholas Genzer. Carolyn married Wilson Holub and they had two sons together, Roger Allen Holub and Russell Adam Holub.
Carolyn then married Marvin Charles “Charlie” Friend in 1986. She gained a whole new family through her marriage to Charlie, a stepson James Billy Friend and a “heart son,” Brian William Kelly (Billy’s best friend). She loved her new mother-in-law Norma Friend and all of Charlie’s family very much, especially Charlie’s niece Sheryl Valverde. Charlie passed away in 1993.
Carolyn added a “heart sister” and best friend, Lisa Steward (who was her partner in crime for 44 years) whose children Carolyn adopted. Carolyn was always a “second mom” to Lisa’s sons: Stephen Reed, Robert Reed and Brandon Reed. Carolyn added a “heart daughter,” Misty Hudson, to her family as well.
Carolyn met Scott Welch in 2001, her boyfriend, with whom she did so many things over the years together. Carolyn and Scott talked on the phone every night, no matter what and without fail, for 24 years! Carolyn looked forward to her time with Scott … the “love of her life” is what she called him.
Carolyn loved her church family and the people with whom she worshiped very much. She was very involved with the Catholic Daughters of St. Luke the Evangelist Church where she had several positions over the years including regent of the Catholic Daughters. She loved going to the Catholic Daughters conventions with her friends. She loved to travel and went all over the world with family and friends.
Her father Alfons Genzer and mother Betty Walchar, her brother Al, Wilson, sons Roger and Russell, husband Charlie, stepson Billy, mother-in-law ”Mom” Friend, and her heart son Stephen all preceded Carolyn in death.
Carolyn is survived by her sister-in-law Bunny Genzer; nephew Anthony Genzer and his son AJ; nephew Nicholas Genzer and his wife Maggie and their daughters Ellie and Avery; heart sister Lisa Steward and her husband Mike; heart son Brian Kelly; heart daughter Misty Hudson and her husband Melvin; heart son Robert Reed and his wife Nicole; heart son Brandon Reed and wife Stephanie; cousin Joyce Floyd and her son Gaelan Gilbert and his wife Anna; cousin Larry Filip; former daughter-in-law Christina Melchor; the friends from Catholic Daughters; friends from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office; and many neighbors and friends from Houston, Kingwood, Porter and Schulenburg.
Carolyn was one of the strongest women ever. She celebrated the time she had with each and every one of her loved ones and friends. For those who put their faith in Jesus alone for their salvation, they will most certainly see Carolyn again on the streets of glory in heaven.
The funeral mass was for Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church, 11011 Hall Road, Houston, at 11 a.m., with visitation one hour prior to the service, and interment following in Schulenburg at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery.
Statement of Faith from Carolyn: “First, I commit myself to God’s care and pray that in the hour of my death my faith in Him may be rich that through His love I may enjoy the heavenly mansions prepared for me through Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection on my behalf; and I leave those who survive me with the comfort of knowing that I have died in this faith. Second, I commend those whom I love to the protecting arm of God, knowing full well that He, in my absence from them, can care for them much more adequately than I could were I present and He absent: and I encourage them to place their confidence in Him richly.”