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**ZELA BADER**
Bellville Times January 29, 1923 – August 26, 2013 Zela Bader died at the age of 90 as the result of a fall that occurred while she was tending the usual business of caring for her home. The subsequent hemorrhaging of her brain could not be stopped and she arrived by Life Flight at Methodist Hospital in Houston unconscious. Zela was surrounded by family from the beginning of this process until the end, eight days later, at Houston Hospice. Kathleen Zela Woolgar followed her heart from Gosport, England to Bellville, Texas in 1946 to marry Jack Bader, the American soldier who had fallen in love with this beautiful British soldier while they were posted in London during World War II. Although Zela found herself a stranger in a strange and hotter-than-imagined land, she adapted and assimilated, eventually becoming one of Bellville’s own. Zela was an active member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church for over 60 years. She worked the voting polls, volunteered in an elementary school, led a swimming group, and spent many happy times traveling with bank-sponsored bus tours and returning to England with her children and grandchildren. In later years, before her vision declined, she took much pleasure in playing cards with her friends. Having lost her parents at an early age, Zela’s fondest wish was to have a family of her own. Zela was adept at creating something from nothing, and with little resources she created a home and began her family in 1947. Zela is survived by her two children, Kathy Jackson of Houston and Ian Bader of Bellville, and their respective spouses, Andre and Becky; grandchildren Andrea, Reid, Will, and Catherine and spouses Barry, Melissa, and David; great grandchildren Gwendolyn, Jacob, and baby Jack; nieces Mary Anne Johnston and Sally Nergaard and husband, Kevin McCombs; and grandniece, Natalie Nergaard. None of her family can imagine a life without her, but we pray for a restoration of sight and a glad reunion with those who preceded her in death, including Zela’s parents, Jesse and Albert Woolgar; her sister, Marie Johnston, and husband, Walter; and her handsome soldier and husband, Jack Bader. In death as in life, Zela did things her way. The essence of who we knew as Mama, Auntie, Nana, and Great Nana B did not arrive at Methodist Hospital, but the body she had so meticulously cared for throughout her life held on until the night before the birth of her newest great-grandson, Jack. “This is how it ends? Of course not, no. This is how it begins.” -- S. Everett May God bless and give peace to everyone who has shared this earthly journey with Zela. Posted by Joy Neely

Bellville Times

January 29, 1923 – August 26, 2013

Zela Bader died at the age of 90 as the result of a fall that occurred while she was tending the usual business of caring for her home. The subsequent hemorrhaging of her brain could not be stopped and she arrived by Life Flight at Methodist Hospital in Houston unconscious. Zela was surrounded by family from the beginning of this process until the end, eight days later, at Houston Hospice.

Kathleen Zela Woolgar followed her heart from Gosport, England to Bellville, Texas in 1946 to marry Jack Bader, the American soldier who had fallen in love with this beautiful British soldier while they were posted in London during World War II. Although Zela found herself a stranger in a strange and hotter-than-imagined land, she adapted and assimilated, eventually becoming one of Bellville’s own.

Zela was an active member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church for over 60 years. She worked the voting polls, volunteered in an elementary school, led a swimming group, and spent many happy times traveling with bank-sponsored bus tours and returning to England with her children and grandchildren. In later years, before her vision declined, she took much pleasure in playing cards with her friends.

Having lost her parents at an early age, Zela’s fondest wish was to have a family of her own. Zela was adept at creating something from nothing, and with little resources she created a home and began her family in 1947.

Zela is survived by her two children, Kathy Jackson of Houston and Ian Bader of Bellville, and their respective spouses, Andre and Becky; grandchildren Andrea, Reid, Will, and Catherine and spouses Barry, Melissa, and David; great grandchildren Gwendolyn, Jacob, and baby Jack; nieces Mary Anne Johnston and Sally Nergaard and husband, Kevin McCombs; and grandniece, Natalie Nergaard.

None of her family can imagine a life without her, but we pray for a restoration of sight and a glad reunion with those who preceded her in death, including Zela’s parents, Jesse and Albert Woolgar; her sister, Marie Johnston, and husband, Walter; and her handsome soldier and husband, Jack Bader.

In death as in life, Zela did things her way. The essence of who we knew as Mama, Auntie, Nana, and Great Nana B did not arrive at Methodist Hospital, but the body she had so meticulously cared for throughout her life held on until the night before the birth of her newest great-grandson, Jack.

“This is how it ends? Of course not, no. This is how it begins.” -- S. Everett

May God bless and give peace to everyone who has shared this earthly journey with Zela.

Posted by Joy Neely

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