Elisabeth Roth

Elisabeth Augusta Schnfelder Hofmokel Roth, a longtime resident of Brownsville, died on Saturday evening, August 20, 2011, on the eve of her 104th birthday. Else, as she was known to all, was born on August 21, 1907 in the North Sea port city of Bremerhaven, Germany, the first of 3 daughters to Paul Johannes Schnfelder, a First Engineer on the North German Lloyd Line, and his wife, Katharina Henriette Hoelker Schnfelder.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 36 years, Frederic William F. W. Hofmokel Friedrich Wilhelm Hofmockel, her second husband of two years, Karl Roth, her sisters Gerda Weinberger of New York and Irma Dittmer of Fallingbostel, Germany, and her soninlaw Richard J. Settle of Brownsville, Texas.

She is survived by her daughter, Gerdamarie Hofmokel Settle, and her 3 grandchildren: Karen Settle Newton Harvey of Houston, TX, Frederic Fritz Hofmokel Settle Cathy of Brownsville and Lisa Settle Strain Bill of Boerne, TX, and 8 great grandchildren: Kirk Newton, David Newton, Catherine Settle, Carl Settle, Travis Strain, Zachary Strain, Aaron Strain and Emma Strain. Also surviving are 2 nieces, Doris Weinberger Carney of New York and Uta Dittmer Voss of Walsrode, Germany, and a nephew, Fritz Hofmockel of Ansbach, Germany, and numerous great nieces and nephews.

As a young woman, Else attended a convent school in Germany, where she learned the household skills that later served her so well as the wife of the first port director of the Port of Brownsville. She kept a beautiful home and entertained guests from all over the world. Else first traveled to the United States in 1925 as a 17 year old passenger aboard the Bremen, headed for New York. She is listed in the ships register as a governess, and she worked for a branch of the Rockefeller family in New York. It was upon a return trip to Germany several years later that she met her future husband, Fritz Hofmokel, who had previously emigrated from Ansbach, Germany to the United States. They were married in Boston on February 26, 1929, by the then Father Francis Spellman, later to become Cardinal. Else and Fritz made their first home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and in 1936 relocated to Brownsville, TX, when the opportunity for Fritz to take the job as port director was offered. Several years later at the outbreak of World War II in 1939, Else was visiting her family in Germany. Were it not for the fact that she had her 6 year old Americanborn daughter along with her, she would not have been allowed to return to the United States. As many people at the time were attempting to flee Germany, it took many months, as well as a journey to Denmark, to eventually gain passage back to the United States. Else became a naturalized United States citizen on Dec. 5, 1941. During the wartime, and due to Fritz Hofmokels service during the First World War on a German UBoat, he was asked to resign from his position as port director, and for the duration of the war, the young family made their home in San Antonio, where new friends and connections were made that lasted a lifetime. Immediately after the war, the family relocated back to Brownsville, where Elses husband resumed his duties as port director. Despite the distance and the loss of communication during the war, Else was always close to the extended family members in Germany. Care packages were sent during the difficult times both during and directly after the war, and family visits continued in both directions until Else and her 2 sisters reached into their 80s. Else was born into a family with a love for music. While she gave up her violin early in life, she never tired of classical music and always had a record on the turntable. She loved to be surrounded by family and friends, enjoyed entertaining and always had dinner or a pound cake prepared for the guest or family member who might show up.

The family especially wishes to thank Beatriz Rodriguez, her faithful caregiver for 13 years, and Perfecto Valverde, her gardener, who has worked for the family for over 60 years.

Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday August 26, 2011 with a 7 p.m. Holy Rosary to be recited at Trevino Funeral Home. Mass of Ressurection will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday August 27, 2011 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. There will not be a procession, we will meet at the church. Graveside Services will follow at Buena Vista Burial Park.


The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations in her memory be made to the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art, 660 E. Ringgold St, Brownsville, TX 78520.

Visitation

Trevino Funeral Home
1355 Old Port Isabel Rd.
Brownsville, TX  78520
Friday, August 26, 2011
5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Service

Rosary

Trevino Funeral Home
1355 Old Port Isabel Rd
Brownsville, TX  78520
Friday, August 26, 2011
7 p.m.

Mass

Sacred Heart Catholic Church
602 East Elizabeth
Brownsville, TX  78520
Saturday, August 27, 2011
10 a.m.

Cemetery

Buena Vista Burial Park
5 McDavitt St.
Brownsville, TX  78520

Memorial Contributions

660 E. Ringgold St
Brownsville, TX  78520