Kristina Faldyn

March 28, 1950 — July 4, 2024

Smithville, Tx

Kristina (Kris) Kriwanek Faldyn of Smithville, Texas went to be with our Heavenly Father on July 4th, 2024. Kris, 74, was born on March 28, 1950 to Franz F. Kriwanek and Hermine Habenreich Kriwanek in Kopeberg, in the Oerebro Province of Sweden.

She was Baptized into the Catholic Faith, May 3, 1950. Kris’s father, Frantz preceded his young family arriving in America in the 1950s on an immigration sponsorship from an Iowan Farmer. Kris’s mother, Hermine, older sister Liz, and 2 year old Kris arrived at Ellis Island- New York, New York on July 25,1953 on the ship, S. S. Stockholm. What an honor and privilege for the Kriwanek girls to be among the last immigrants to obtain their Citizenship Certifications at Ellis Island. The next year, 1954, Ellis Island was decommissioned and became a part of the National Park Service system.

The Kriwanek sisters welcomed a sister, Eva the following year. Kris graduated from Coronado High School in Lubbock, Texas on May 30,1968. She was an outstanding student excelling in Math and English and served on the High School Student Council. Kris also spoke multiple languages.

Robert and Kris met at Southwest Texas State University as students in 1972 and started dating. Kris worked for the Dean at Southwest Texas as an administrative assistant. The Kriwanek family had a thriving deli in the downtown San Marcos area called “Sandwich Haven”. Robert was in college and needed a job at the time. Hermine checked him out, approved of his appearance and put Robert work in the Deli. Not only did he get the job, but he got the girl too.

Kris and Robert fell in love, and married on August 12, 1974. After a couple of years they moved from San Marcos to Austin. Kris was hired on April 1, 1976 by Texas Commission On Law Enforcement(TCOLE) in Austin, Texas. She advanced to a supervisory job title in the department. She loved her job and her staff and DPS troopers loved her. She would go above and beyond helping her people, through acts of kindness and generosity. At times bringing roses and gifting them to each individual, just because she appreciated her people.

After 25 years with TCOLE, Kris retired in 2001. As Kris would say, I love “piddling" in my garden. Her beautiful flower beds and colorful flowers and well manicured yard were her passion & joy. She and Uncle Johnnie got many beautification awards for yard of the month. She dearly loved her cats and her Robert! She loved the simple things in life.

Kris was the happiest and looked forward to her evening rides with Robert driving on country back-roads, viewing wildlife and nature's seasonal floral displays. Her excitement at seeing deer and other wildlife in nature was a joy for her.

Kris is survived by the love of her life, husband Robert Lee “Bob” Faldyn, sisters Liz Kriwanek Chapman and Eva Kriwanek Debolt, one nephew and one niece and numerous friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Frantz and Hermine Habenreich Kriwanek and father-in-law Johnnie Faldyn and mother-in-law Ella Mae Faldyn.

Heaven has gained a beautiful lady with a heart as big as Texas and a smile to match.

Go with God’s speed Kris.

Services will be held Saturday, July 27, 2024, at Marrs- Jones Funeral Home. Visitation will be at 10:00 A.M. The Service will begin at 11:00 A.M. followed by the Rosary.

The funeral home is located at 110 American Legion Rd., Smithville, Texas.

The family will have a private interment at a later date.

In lieu of flowers.

Kris requested donations be made to charitable organizations of your choosing on her behalf.

Here are some suggestions:

The Texas Czech Heritage Cultural Center - LaGrange

http://www.czechtexas.org

The Gardenia E. Janssen Animal Shelter - LaGrange

https://janssenanimalshelter.org

VFW Smithville, Texas

https://www.vfw.org

American Legion Smithville, Texas