Della Laqua

DELLA POLLY LAQUA STEWART MOULTON - Della Polly Laqua Stewart of Moulton, Texas, passed into eternal life on February 20, 2011 with her family at her side. Her loving family and friends will miss her as we mourn her departure. Della Polly was born to Ernest Gottlieb Laqua and Adeline Della Horelica Laqua in Flatonia, Texas on January 9, 1932. She attended Cedar Springs Country School, graduated from Moulton High School and attended Sam Houston State University and Temple College. Della Polly worked as a switchboard operator as a "Hello Girl" in Moulton before marrying Louis Alvin Stewart, Sr. of Flatonia on June 2, 1951 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Moulton. To this union two children were born, Dr. Debra Gayle Stewart and Louis A. Stewart, Jr. Della Polly was a kind, loving, generous and devoted wife and mother. She was the heart and soul of her family. She taught her family never to compromise their standards and emphasized the importance of treating everyone with dignity, respect and fairness. Della Polly and Louis moved to College Station and then to Austin where Della Polly worked as the Program Director and Medical Coordinator of the Travis County Juvenile Court for over 33 years. Della Polly served as a board member, executive committee member and chairperson of many professional organizations. Della Polly was instrumental in founding the Texas Juvenile Detention Association where she served as a board member for five terms. She served for several years as both a board member and divisional chairperson with the Texas Correctional Association and the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission. Della Polly received the "Halls of Detention" award, which was the highest award given by the Texas Juvenile Detention Association. She also received the "Outstanding Youth Woman" award from the Texas Correctional Association. Della Polly retired in 1987 and moved back home to the family ranch near Old Moulton. Here she enjoyed the relaxing and peaceful country living, the cattle, peacocks, guineas and chickens. She also enjoyed being a judge at the Taylor International Barbecue Cook-off, watching all the wildlife, hunting, fishing and dancing. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family and friends and taking family vacations where we camped out along the way. Her family has been given the gift of many beautiful memories of sites seen and conversations had on these many vacations and these memories will be cherished by her family forever. Della Polly was preceded in death by her parents and husband. Della Polly is survived and cherished by her devoted daughter and son-in-law, Dr. Debra Gayle Stewart and her husband, Dr. Donald Ray Tamplen of Houston; her loving and caring son, Louis A. Stewart, Jr. of Moulton and her brother, Lonnie Dean Laqua of Angleton. Serving as pallbearers are: Ray Culak, Ronnie Culak, Dale Fojtik, Eugene Laqua, Kevin Laqua, Sonny Mitchell, Darren Sullivent and Joe Trojacek. Della Polly's family cordially invites family and friends for visitation from 6:00 - 8:30 P.M. on Friday, February 25, 2011 at the Smith Funeral Home in Moulton with a Rosary Service being held at 7:00 P.M. A personal tribute/eulogy will start at 9:45 A.M. on Saturday, February 26, 2011 with the funeral mass to follow at 10:00 A.M. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Moulton with Reverend Gabriel Maison officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery in Flatonia under the direction of Smith Funeral Home, 404 West Bobkat Drive Moulton, Texas 77975. 361-596-4631 www.smithfuneralhomemoulton.com Memorial contributions may be made to Bluebonnet Youth Ranch in Yoakum, Texas. Passionate and showing excellence in everything she put her hand to, Della Polly will be remembered for the unconditional love and support she gave to her children and family, the lovely arrangements and decorations she enjoyed making, her arts and crafts, the beautiful vegetable and flower gardens, the baby animals she raised and watching her waltz and polka around the dance floor with dad. With the closing of the final chapter in her book of life, we have suffered a great loss in her death. She was and always will be held in love and high esteem in our lives. We are thankful and will miss her love, wisdom, guidance, strength, support, thoughtfulness, joy, friendship and the nightly conversations. We love her and know she is watching over us as our special angel. We wait until we too are called home to see her reassuring face and be with her once again in heaven.
Visitation Friday, February 25, 2011

Rosary Friday, February 25, 2011

Funeral Services Saturday, February 26, 2011