Mary Frances (Strathman) Zidlicky

Mary Frances was born on August 21, 1951 to Al and Patty Strathman in Corpus Christi, Texas. She entered into eternity on Tuesday August 29, 2023 surrounded by her loving family.

Rosary will be said at Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia, on Monday, September 4, 2023, at 6pm. Memorial Mass will be held on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at 10am at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 4100 S. Coulter, with Rev. John Valdez presiding.

She described her early memories with such peace. Her favorite playground was the bluffs by the coast in Portland, Texas. She shared memories of playing in front of an open window in her childhood home feeling the breeze on her face. When a train would pass by, she and her little brother would run out to count the cars. She recalled sitting on a wooden bench swing with her beloved Mother in the evenings until the frogs came out then they would run inside as quickly as they could. She loved spending time with her big brother Len looking at his model trains and practicing snapping with their toes.

Mary met Don in 1969 at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi where they were both music majors. She told stories of the way Don would jump out and scare her and she thought he was pest at first. They enjoyed going to Cole Park by the bay and would walk and talk for hours.
Mary taught for almost 40 years and loved each of her students. She was always delighted when she would see one of them around town or hear from them on Facebook.
Mary was the most incredible mother. Patient, silly, imaginative, and attentive. She had a way of making her children feel like they were the absolute best thing in her life and that nothing else was more important.

Mary was a proud Nana through and through. She even joked that she retired from teaching just so she could pick the kids up from school. She was always down for a trip to Barnes and Noble where she would get them a snack and they would browse books as long as they wanted to.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Pat, and her brother Len. She is survived by her husband Don, Daughter Allison (Husband Ryan) and son Eric. She also leaves behind her grandchildren Zachary, Nolan, Hudson, and Sage. She is already so missed by her 3 beloved pets, Sandy, Lucy, and Simon. They never left her side.