Rosalie Joyce Emmite Matula passed away on December 15, 2014 to be at home with the Lord.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, with Vigil at 6:00 PM, and Rosary immediately following.  Vigil and rosary will be led by Deacon Sam Dell’Olio, on Sunday, December 21, 2014 at Crowder Funeral Home on 1645 East Main Street, League City, TX 77573.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Monday, December 22, 2014 at St. Mary Catholic Church, located at 1612 East Walker Street in League City, Texas, Father Howard Drabek officiating.

Interment will follow the Mass at Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery at 7801 Gulf Freeway South in Dickinson, Texas.

Pallbearers are her three sons and five grandsons: Hank Matula, Mark Matula, Jonathan Matula, Chad Valcoviak, Caleb Nunez, Christoffer Nunez, Brandon Matula, and Devon Matula.

Rosalie was born on March 20, 1940 in Dickinson, Texas to parents Joseph and Grace Emmite, immigrants from Palermo and Cefalu, Sicily. Rosalie was one of ten children, and preceded in death by Sam Emmite, Rose Lee Cutia, Nancy Mitchell, Joseph Louis Emmite, Mary Jones, Katy Johnson, Frank Emmite, and is succeeded in life by Lucille Hardcastle and Anthony James Emmite.

Rosalie attended Shrine of True Cross School and Dickinson High School where she thoroughly enjoyed marching band and was an honor roll student who worked hard to overcome challenges presented considering her parent’s native language being Italian. Immediately after graduation, she was employed with American National in Galveston. On Christmas Eve, after graduation, Rosalie met the love of her life, Henry Frank Matula, at a dance at the Nessler Center in Texas City and they were married on October 24, 1959 at Shrine of the True Cross Church. During their 55 years of marriage, the couple raised 5 remarkable children and partnered together in many business ventures, including Hank’s Barber Shop and Pat & Jack’s Music store. She learned to play lead guitar and enjoyed playing Country and Western Music with Henry and their children in a family band, “The Rhinestones,” at local halls, celebrations, bazaars, and fairs of which were occasionally sponsored by the Crowder family. She volunteered for many years at the VA Campus in Houston, Tx. Rosalie always persevered to make sacrifices to include their children in everything she could, as she treasured spending as much time with family as possible. At the age of 51, she received her Associate Degree from San Jacinto College in Social Science and Real Estate. She regularly attended Sunday Mass at Shrine of the True Cross and St. Mary until she was unable to so.  Special thanks are extended to Eucharistic Minister, Mr. Steve Blackwood, who visited her almost every Sunday during those times.

Rosalie is greatly missed by all those who love her, especially her daughters, Jacqueline Valcoviak and husband Bruce, Patricia Becker and husband Todd; and her sons, Henry Matula, Jr. and wife Tanya, Mark Matula, and Jonathan Matula. She is the grandmother of nine grandchildren, all of whom brought tremendous joy to her life, as she loved children and at times journeyed long distances to spend time with them: Tyler Valcoviak, Christen Valcoviak, Chad Valcoviak, Clarissa Valcoviak, Caleb Nunez, Christoffer Nunez, Isabella Nunez, Brandon Matula, and Devon Matula.

Rosalie will always be remembered in the hearts of all those she touched with her joyful laugh, large, warm smile, and intense love of life as an outstanding, perseverant, dedicated, and devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.