Eileen Harth Kaszynski, of Beaumont, TX, passed away at the age of 97. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 4, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home. Following the service, a reception will be held in Holub Hall at St. Anne Catholic Church. A gathering of family and friends will be held on Friday from 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Born August 14, 1913 in Beach, N. Dakota to Louis and Pauline Harth, Eileen was the oldest of three children. At an early age, she moved with her family to Illinois. After graduating from the American Academy of Art in Chicago, she married Hubert B. Kaszynski in November 1936. They moved to Dallas in August of 1940 where Mr. Kaszynski was Founder and Conductor of the Dallas Rotary Glee Club and Director of the Men's Choir at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Mr. Kaszynski became a Professor of Music at Texas Women's University in 1947 and the family moved to Denton, TX. In 1955, the family relocated to Beaumont where Mr. Kaszynski was a Professor of Music at Lamar University and National Piano Guild Judge for many years. Preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Mrs. Kaszynski, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, devoted her life to family and friends.
As a child of the Depression, she was resourceful and frugal. She taught by example that the only thing important is what you do with what you have.
It was while living in Denton that Eileen became famous for her Angel Food cakes. The ladies at Immaculate Conception Church, a small congregation of about 12 families, but serving a large population of college students, would go door to door selling their cakes to assist with the church's expenses. It was not long before advance orders came pouring in for Eileen's Angel Food Cakes, eliminating further door to door selling. Eileen was an exceptional cook from canning to baking, preparing everything from scratch with fresh produce. Never was a meal complete without one of her brilliant desserts. The cookie jar was always full, compliments of an "oversized industrial" mixer given to Eileen by her own mother. Eventually, the old machine burned itself out from years of loving use.
If anyone was searching for a good book to read, preferably something of substance, historically important or a suspense thriller, just ask Eileen. As a lover of books, she compiled a list of every book she ever read, which numbered into the thousands. Until her last day, you could count on her having a book in her hand and the TV unplugged.
A bolt of fabric on sale or even a colorful flour sack never went to waste. The buzz of the sewing machine kept the family in skirts and shirts, shorts and slacks, dresses and jackets, pajamas and robes.
She enjoyed a brisk walk around the neighborhood, followed by many hours each day in her flower garden, a special place to refresh her spirit and celebrate life. She loved sharing cuttings from her favorite plants with friends and neighbors.
All who knew Eileen have been greatly enriched by her love and generosity and the strong foundation of faith in God. Family and church were the center of her world.
She leaves behind five children, Claudia, Paula, Jeanette, James and John; fourteen grandchildren; and twenty great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, friends may direct memorial contributions to the charity of their choice.