Alice Clarice Sebesta Cruz

CRUZ, ALICE CLARICE SEBESTA (1931 ~ 2020). The following is an obituary for Alice Clarice Sebesta Cruz, spouse of former Texas House Member Lauro Cruz. The obituary was provided by Weed, Corley, Fish Funeral Home of Austin.

Our Mom, Alice Clarice Sebesta, came into this world on November 9, 1931. Her lineage is Czechoslovakian. She lived and grew up in Snook, Texas, being raised and cared for by her relatives after her own mother passed away when she was 9 years old. Her nickname growing up was Bee because her brothers thought she was always busy as a bee. After finishing high school in Snook, she moved to Houston to attend business school.

After completing business school, she worked for Dr. McReynolds who was a highly regarded Orthopedic Surgeon both in Houston and for the NASA program. Our Mom started as an office assistant for him and later worked as a physical therapist in his office.

Our mother married Lauro Cruz in Houston in 1955. Together, they managed a neighborhood grocery store and raised a family of four children all while our Dad studied and subsequently graduated from the University of Houston. Mom was right by Dad’s side giving all her support when he ran for and was elected to the Texas State House of Representatives in 1967.

Our Mom and Dad were both longtime members of the Lutheran Church.

Later, after all her children were mostly through college, Mom attended Austin Community College. She applied to and transferred to the University of Texas at Austin where she received a Bachelor's Degree in Education. Mom started a new career as an elementary school teacher for the Austin Independent School District. She taught both 2nd and 3rd grade elementary students, a profession she thoroughly enjoyed until she retired.

Clarice is preceded in death by Lauro Cruz.

She is survived by her children Chris, Camille, Jerry and Sat Nam, and her grandchildren Luke, Kasey and Cody.

Burial services at the Texas State Cemetery have been restricted by the state to no more than 10 people due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. The family requests that you honor not attending the burial service unless notified by the family. The memorial service for Clarice is pending and will be announced at a later date. Please do not send any flowers to the funeral home or to the family at the time.