Genevieve Schwirtlich

On March 14, 2025 at 1:29 am, Genevieve (Jean) Schwirtlich went to her eternal resting place in Heaven. She was a lifelong devoted Catholic. Jean and Ed were members of The Association of Holy Family Guild - St. Philip Neri Holy Family Guild of Violet, Texas. She was a member of the SPJST for 75 years, receiving an honorary pin. SPJST’s roots run deep in the history of the American fraternal benefit system. During the 1880s and 1890s, many Texans of Czech ancestry joined the nationwide fraternal order known as the Cesko-Slovanska Podporujici Spolecnost (C.S.P.S.). The organization is recognized today as the Czechoslovak Society of America (CSA). She was also a member and volunteered at her church St. Peter Church on Violet Rd and later at her assisted living facility, The Village of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. She attended bible classes and church services at her current assisted living facility, Oak Tree Assisted Living in New Braunfels, Texas.

Jean is the daughter of John and Albina Kahanek. She was born in Moravia,Texas on April 4, 1929. She grew up on the family farm. She loved competing in poetry readings at the County Fair held in her community. Later she attended Moravia High School through the eleventh grade and then graduated from Schulenburg High School with honors. She then attended Southwest State Teachers College in San Marcos, Texas. After graduating, she answered a request from the trustees in Violet, Texas to become a Catholic teacher at St. Anthony’s Catholic School. Her trustee was Joe Schwirtlich who would introduce her to Eddie Schwirtlich.

She married the love of her life, Edward Schwirtlich on June 18,1950 at Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church in Moravia, Texas. They met when Eddie’s parents brought Jean in as family when she was teaching at the Violet School. They were married for 65 wonderful years before his passing in 2016.

Her teaching career would include one year at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School, three years at St. Teresa Catholic School and Mathis ISD, ending her career as a librarian for CCISD in Corpus Christi for 27 years.

She was preceded in death by her husband Edward Schwirtlich, her parents John and Albina Kahanek, her sisters Hattie Brossman, Elvira Messer, and Martha Kutac, her son-in-law Rick Mireles, and her granddaughter Amanda Schwirtlich. 

She is survived by her children Donnie (Christina) Schwirtlich, Lonnie (Jordan) Schwirtlich, Brenda Mireles, and Randy (Sherry) Schwirtlich, and her fourteen grandchildren, Brad, Kassie, Joel, Jessica, Hillary, Erik, Kelsey, Lauren, Sara, Emilie, Kirsten, Ava, Sabrina, Teresa, and fifteen great-grandchildren, Hayli, Justin, Evelyn, Addison, Gavin, Leena, Neel, Jai, Caroline, Courtney, Peyton, Reagan, Evelyn, Kodah and Niko who is on the way.

Jean was a loving wife, sister, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, and cousin. She always supported her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren at all of their different activities and sporting events throughout her 95 years of life.

A proud resident of Corpus Christi, she was the heart of every Sunday lunch, welcoming family into her home with warmth and a table full of homemade favorites. Her kolaches, cinnamon rolls, and treasured family recipes were more than just meals, they were a symbol of her love and dedication to bringing everyone together.

Later in life, she continued to thrive, embracing new friendships and activities with the same energy that defined her younger years. Recovering from a hip replacement in 2025 with unwavering determination, she participated in a dominos and card game club she started in the activities room of her assisted living, bringing people together just as she always had. Her quick wit, competitive spirit, and love for a good game made her a favorite among friends old and new. She will be deeply missed, but her legacy lives on in every shared meal, every game played, and every moment of joy she so effortlessly created.

Visitation will be held at Sawyer-George Funeral Home on Friday, April 4, 2025 starting at 5 PM, the Rosary will be recited on the same day at 7:00 PM in Sawyer-George Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 10:00 AM at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Violet, TX. Interment will follow in the St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery in Violet.

Sawyer-George Funeral Home: 12497 Leopard St., Corpus Christi, TX 78410

St. Anthony’s: 3918 Co Rd 61, Robstown, TX 78380