Ositha Mary (Ulrich) Cykala “Gema” was born Aug. 23, 1926 in Freyburg to Charles and Emelia “Millie” (Olbort) Ulrich and she had an older sister, Irmgard.
Ositha grew up in this same area, attending Abbotts Grove School. Later in her life, she moved to Houston, and there she met her true love, Johnnie Cykala. Ositha waited for him to return from WWII and they were married at St. Mary’s Church in High Hill on April 28, 1946. This beautiful union was blessed with four children, Marilyn, Gloria, Gary and Loretta. Ositha andJohnny made many sacrifices together so their family would have a comfortable life. Ositha enjoyed traveling with Johnnie, whether it was to Huntsville State Park for a long weekend of camping with their four young children, or Lake Austin for water skiing for the children when they got older. Ositha did a lot of cooking, but always got a smooth boat ride at dusk when the skiers were off the lake. She always enjoyed trips to visit her grown children, whether that was to Mitchell, South Dakota; New Orleans, Louisiana; Charlotte, North Carolina; or Eagle, Colorado.
When Ositha retired, she and Johnnie built a home on the same farm where she was born, in Freyburg. She and Johnnie spent their days tending cattle, gardening and of course Ositha did a lot of canning. And who could forget the beautiful roses in her huge flowerbeds? Ositha and Johnnie also enjoyed a good game of dominoes. Ositha spent a lot of time quilting and crocheting and she gave away nearly everything she made.
Ositha was preceded in everlasting life by her husband of 61 years, Johnnie; her parents, Charles and Emelia Ulrich; her sisters, Irmgard Ulrich and Norma Stegent; and her grandson, Mark Abbott.
Survivors include two sisters, Emily Bugaj and Rosalie Fryer; three daughters and sons-in-law, Marilyn and Rick Van Hoozer of Wimberley, Gloria and Deacon Jay Vocelka of Freyburg, and Loretta and John Mac-Curdy of Charlotte, N.C.; a son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Lisa Cykala of Spring; 13 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in High Hill, with the parish rosary recited at 10:45 a.m. prior to the Mass. Interment was in the church cemetery.
“Ositha was an example to us all with her faith in God and her devotion to Mary, through her rosary, and the love and attention given to her family and friends,” her family writes. Ositha said so many times, “Don’t cry for me when I am gone, celebrate that I have gone “home!”
The family requests donations be made to the St. Mary’s-High Hill Restoration Fund or a charity of one’s choice.