Obituaries

Matilda (Tillie) Rose Orlicek

Matilda (Tillie) Rose Behil Orlicek of Des Arc was born in Flint, Michigan on October 5, 1926. She was born to Steve and Mary Behil. Matilda was the oldest of five girls. Her sisters were Mary Behil, Rose McArthur, Helen Nester, and Ann Chema. Matilda attended school in Flint, Michigan where she graduated from Flint high school. She then attended two years of business college. She married the late Francis J. Orlicek, whom she met through an aunt on his side of the family. They wrote letters to each other while Francis was serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. Matilda worked as a telephone operator for Bell telephone company in Flint and Lansing, Michigan, Jonesboro and Little Rock, Arkansas. She and Francis had a family farm and worked together on the farm. Matilda loved gardening, family, and people. Tillie never met a stranger. She loved her time as a teacher's aide for second graders, to substitute teach, and to help the elderly. She was a member of the Extension Homemakers in Hazen and Des Arc, Royal Neighbors, 4-H leader, and a member of St. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Slovak and later a member of St. Rose Catholic Church in Carlisle. She is survived by daughters, Patricia (James) Holloway, Phyllis (Dale) Colclasure and Cynthia (Doug) Orlicek-Jones; sons, Michael (Susan) Orlicek, Stephen (Phyllis K) Orlicek, and Gregory (Irene McCray) Orlicek. Matilda leaves 13 grandchildren,Aleisha Shurley, Mark Holloway, Tim Holloway, Eric Orlicek, DeAnna Miller, Nicole Creason, Jake Orlicek, Ben Jones, Andrea Jones, Chris Jones, Jillian Bowls, Alex Orlicek, and Collett McCray and 10 great-grandchildren, Haven Holloway, Kade Holloway, Haley Miller, Logan Miller, Weston Miller, Ayden Shurley, Ashton Shurley, Archer Shurley, Everett Jones, and Chandler Jones. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Thursday, June 4, 2015 at St. Rose Catholic Church in Carlisle. Visitation will be Wednesday, June 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Westbrook Funeral Home Chapel in Hazen followed by Rosary at 7 p.m. Pallbearers will be Ben Jones, Chris Jones, Eric Orlicek, Mark Holloway, Tim Holloway, and James Shurley. Honorary pallbearers will be James Allen Walicki, Doug Jones, Jake Orlicek, Ken Orlicek, and Dale Colclasure. Interment will be in the Czech National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the Czech National Cemetery or the Alzheimer's Association. Arrangements are by Westbrook Funeral Home of Hazen. Online obituary at www.westbrookfuneralhomehazen.com.

Published June 3, 2015

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