Nellie Ann Hess Berend, age 78, of Windthorst, Texas passed away, Monday, June 26, 2023, at her residence.

Vigil service and Rosary will be held at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 28, 2023, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Windthorst.  Mass will be celebrated at 9:00 a.m. Thursday, June 29, 2023, at St. Mary's Catholic Church with Reverend Michael Moloney, OFS, Pastor of St. Mary's and St. Boniface Catholic Church, officiating. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery under the direction of Aulds Funeral Home of Archer City.

Nellie was born November 20, 1944 in Gainesville, Texas to the late Henry Gerard Hess and Rose Ann Schmidlkofer Hess.  She graduated from Lindsay High School.

She and August "Gus" Edward Berend were married May 8, 1965 in Lindsay, Texas and then moved to Windthorst.  He preceded her in death on December 15, 2020.

Nellie and Gus owned and operated the August E. Berend Dairy until his retirement.  You would often find Nellie in the dairy barn milking cows with Gus when needed.  She was an avid gardener and many years the entire back yard was covered with vegetables. To feed the large family, Gus and Nellie butchered their own beef and even this year, you could find Nellie on her tall chair in front of the meat grinder when meat was being processed in their shop.

Nellie was full of faith and active as a lifelong member of the Christian Mother's Society, St. Mary's Catholic Church and Room Parent for all of her children.  She supported her kids in every activity that they participated in and was an avid fan of the Trojans and the Trojanettes.  She never missed a game of her sons and daughters.  Nellie especially enjoyed having team meals and kids coming in and out of her home.  She also enjoyed baking teacher gifts and having large parties at her house for all of her family and friends.

Survivors include three daughters, Sue Ann Berend and Doug Evans of Joy, Deana Vieth and husband, James of Windthorst, and Jessica Berend of Wichita Falls; seven sons, Rodney Berend and wife, Karen of Windthorst, Shane L. Berend and wife, Kristin of Scotland, Quentin Berend and wife, Rebecca of Muenster, Maurice Berend and wife, Mumtaz Tejani of Rockwall, Doyle Berend of Windthorst, Casey Berend and wife, Laura of McKinney, and Augie Berend and wife, Candice of Anna; three sisters, Rosemary Fangman and husband, Winston, Margie Huchton and husband, David and Clara Hellinger, all of Lindsay; one brother, Paul Hess and wife, Sis of Lindsay; sixteen grandchildren, Mason, Harlee, Landry, Larson, Mikayla, Blair, Blakeley, Kylie, Brynlee, Braxton, Brystol, Hasan, Laila, Slade, Hess and Larkin; and four great-grandchildren, Elliott, Milo, Everly, Moxton and one on the way.

She was also preceded in death by her brothers, Julius, Henry and Lambert Hess.

Serving as pallbearers will be her seven sons and grandson, Mason Vieth.  Nellie said she carried her sons into this world and they can carry her out.

The family suggests memorials to Windthorst Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 162, Windthorst, Texas 76389, St. Mary's Building Fund, P.O. Box 230, Windthorst, Texas 76389, or Hospice of Wichita Falls, 4909 Johnson Road, Wichita Falls, Texas 76310.