Janell Seidel Reed

Janell Seidel Reed was born April 5, 1935 to Hattie and William Seidel. She had one brother, Milburn Edward Seidel. Janell worked on her family farm growing up. They grew cotton and peas and they raised chickens and cows. Her love for gardening and ranching only grew as she got older. She enjoyed the country life, sitting on her front porch watching people pass by, spoiling her cows, going to the auction then eating lunch at the cow palace after. She checked on her cows as often as she could for as long as she could. She was so proud of her work with them and loved to talk about them with her family. She found joy in hard work and time spent with family. Janell married James Everett Reed on April 9, 1957. Together they had four children: Christie Estell, Loretta Ann, Connie Lynn & James Milton. In their early years of marriage, JE and Janell traveled and lived in different cities until they settled down in Gonzales. Many weekends and holidays were spent in String Prairie with her mom and family. She worked 37 years for H-E-B in Gonzales. She loved her job and all the people she would get to see each day. She loved country music. Some of her favorite artists were Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty. One of her and JE’s favorite past times were dances at Watterson Hall. She loved to dance. She passed down her devotion to her faith, her love for good music and family gatherings down to her children. Through her walk with dementia, as she slowly started to forget things one thing that was not forgotten was her faith. Alongside her daughters, they all enjoyed praying the rosary. Janell and her daughter, Connie, each night prayed the rosary together. She could resight every prayer of the rosary without skipping a beat. Even when Connie would sometimes fall asleep praying the rosary at night, Janell was there to keep her in line and make sure she would wake up to continue praying the rosary. Janell grew up in St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She enjoyed attending mass at St. Mary’s and the annual String Prairie Bizarre. She loved having her close friends and family around her. One of the many ways she will be remembered by was that she was a wonderful cook. Her favorite recipes are often hard to recreate because of how she could eye a “drop” of vanilla or add a “dab” of butter. She taught her daughters her wonderful recipes and they will continue the wonderful legacy of her and her recipes. Her turkey and dressing & lemon and chocolate pies was always a favorite of ours. Her cooking is one of the many things we will miss about our sweet grandmother. Janell was a hard worker whether she was on the farm or in the kitchen, if she was not working, she would often be spending time with one of her daughters and their families. She was so proud of all her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She doted upon them often and had the biggest smile when one of her great grandchildren ran up to crawl into her lap.

Everyone loved Janell whether it was her family, friends, co-workers, or neighbors next door. Janell will be remembered by her giving heart and strong faith by all who have met her, and she will be greatly missed.

She is proceeded in death by her husband James Everett Reed, her son James Milton Reed, her mother Hattie Seidel, her father William Seidel, and her brother Milburn Seidel.

She is survived by her daughter Christie Krueger (spouse) Jerry Krueger, her daughter Loretta Thomas (spouse) Johnny Thomas, daughter Connie Thomas (spouse) Randall Thomas. Grandchildren: Randall Thomas (spouse) Shelley Thomas, Ryan Thomas (spouse) Kortnie Thomas, Nicole Watts (spouse) Jeffery Watts, Elizabeth Freeman (spouse) Cody Freeman, Cassidy Thomas, and Tiffany Thomas. Great Grandchildren: Madison Thomas, Tye Thomas, Peyton Thomas, Layne Thomas, Kendall Watts, Grace Thomas, Ella Thomas, and Avery Freeman. She is preceded in death by her husband James Everett Reed, her son James Milton Reed, her mother Hattie Seidel, her father William Seidel, and her brother Milburn Seidel.

The family received friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday evening, September 6, 2021 in Seydler-Hill Funeral Home with the Holy Rosary being recited at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 am Tuesday, September 7, 2021 in St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in String Prairie, Texas with the Honorary Reverend Dariusz Ziebowicz and Co-Celebrant Victor Mayorga officiating. Graveside services followed in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in String Prairie. Pallbearers: Randall Thomas, Ryan Thomas, Jeffery Watts, Cody Freeman, Billy Seidel, Steven Seidel, Tye Thomas, and Layne Thomas. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to be made in honor of Janell to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in String Prairie, Texas. Friends may leave their condolences to the family by visitingwww.seydlerhillfuneralhome.com.

Due to the present uptick in reported Covid-19 illnesses, protective measures regarding social distancing, and use of personal protective masks are strongly recommended for the visitation, funeral mass, and graveside burial rite. Those remotely symptomatic of COVID-19 are politely asked not to attend. Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.