Marie Frances Hotovy was born on December 11, 1924, on a farm near Bee, Nebraska to Leo and Mary (Hromas) Hain and went to her heavenly home on April 6, 2024, in Seward, Nebraska at the age of 99 years, 3 months and 26 days.
Marie grew up near Bee and graduated from Seward High School with the Class of 1943. She taught country school near the Ulysses area for several years. On August 26, 1947, she was united in marriage to Raphael “Ray” Hotovy and to this union seven children were born. The couple farmed together until retiring in 1989. They were blessed to live all their married life north of Bee. Marie was a longtime member at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. She served on the David City Aquinas High School Council of Administration for many years. After she moved to Seward, Marie then became a member at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.
Marie found great joy in baking and cooking for the guys working in the field. She enjoyed everything about farming, baling hay and gardening. Marie loved her kolache classes and teaching others to bake. She enjoyed traveling to the Holy Land, Rome and Hawaii. Marie’s faith and love for her family were very important to her. Marie loved spending time with her family, learning about their lives and praying for them. They were her pride and joy, especially her grandchildren. Marie was a woman of great faith and was devoted to the Divine Mercy.
Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Raphael “Ray” Hotovy; parents; son, Michael Hotovy; brother and sister-in-law, Leo and Josephine Hain; sister and brother-in-law, Leo and Lillian Gordon.
Survivors cherishing her memory include her children and spouses, Dan Hotovy, Lincoln, Kathy and Bill Grundman, Nebraska City; Greg and Pat Hotovy, Lincoln, Jim and Terri Hotovy, Columbus, Steve and Becky Hotovy, Fremont; Les and Pam Hotovy, Omaha, David and Jodie Hotovy, Elkhorn; 18 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; brothers, Edmund and Alethea Hain, Surprise; Bob Hain, Jefferson City, MO. To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers and memories of a life shared with Marie.
Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 12, 2024, at Zabka-Perdue Funeral Home, Seward. The family will be receiving friends from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church followed by the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 7:00 p.m. and Rosary at 7:30 p.m. all at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 13, 2024, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church with Monsignor Robert Tucker Celebrating the Mass. Graveside and Interment services will follow at Seward Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hotovy family for future designations.