Anne Madeline Kellas, 64, passed into eternal life on Sunday March 21st, 2021, at her home in Shepherd, Texas - surrounded by her 2 children, her granddaughter, and a family friend.

Anne is survived by her son Jason C Pesta, daughter-in-law Katie and granddaughter Ryin Madison; her daughter, Lennette Pesta; close family friend, Taz Nunnery, all live in Houston, who were in attendance at her bedside. Anne is further survived by her mother, Thekla (Ms. Tilli) Podrasky, her sister M. Tish McKee both of Fort Stockton, Texas; nephew Michael McKee, great nieces Mackenzie Ramey, Luna McKee and Judith Dominguez; great nephew Michael Sol McKee, two living Aunts, several cousins, numerous second cousins and a multitude of loving friends.

Anne was preceded in death by her father, Michael Bernard Podrasky Sr., brother, Michael Bernard Podrasky Jr., and both Maternal and Paternal grandparents.

Ms. Kellas was a resident of Shepherd for the last 18 years, where she enjoyed the quiet East Texas woods and loved her home next to the National Forest.

She was born in Edwardsville, Pennsylvania June 1st, 1956 to Michael Sr and Thekla Podrasky, with an older brother, Michael Jr. She grew up in Edwardsville in the house that her great-grandparents had built. Anne became a big sister, in which she got to choose the middle name of Tish (Podrasky) McKee in 1971.

Anne graduated from West Side Area Vocational Technical School in 1974. Anne then followed in her father's footsteps and served her country by joining the United States Army after graduation, and was the first Woman Enlistee to the Headquarters Co., Second Battalion, 109th Infantry in Scranton, PA. She was in the Women's Army Corps, attended Basic Training at Fort McClellan Alabama, and US Army Administration School in Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. She served 18 months on active duty during the VietNam Conflict, at Bad Kreuznach, Germany. In 1976, then known as PFC Anne M. Towery, she was assigned as a Personnel Management Specialist and Unit Recruiter at the Plymouth National Guard Armory in Plymouth, PA.

In 1976, Anne remarried and became a Pesta. In October of 1978, she gave birth to her son, Jason and in 1982, she gave birth to her daughter, Lennette. Anne spent her life, right up to her very last breath, loving her children!

Anne remarried again in 1988 and became a Kellas. Although divorced in 1991, she and Mr. Kellas remained close friends through the years, right up to her death.

Anne was a successful business owner from the early 90's into the mid 2000's. She was a successful bar owner, with several bars and clubs on the Northside of Houston. She was a hostess of lingerie parties and also had a karaoke company. The nightlife was her life! Prior to owning her own clubs, Anne spent many years bartending. She worked at the Marriott IAH, and spent many, many years working at all of the different Crown Clubs and even Bahama Mama's in Galveston. Anne loved entertaining, and the only thing she loved more than that was her family and those she held dear to her heart. And let us not forget, she will forever be remembered for "that pink and white car"! She made friends from all walks of life; many of those friendships lasted until the day she passed, and will extend into eternity. Anne was a very selfless person, very kind, very loving and helped everyone she could. She never held a grudge against anyone, for anything. She loved wholeheartedly and unconditionally.

For those of us that knew and loved Anne, her passing ended a long, horrific battle. And although no words could ever fill the void her passing has left in us; knowing that she is no longer suffering, and that she is with our Lord and Savior, brings an iota of peace. For all her family and dear friends that have passed before her:  her Daddy, her brother, all of her grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins; the love of her life - Jimmy; her closest friend of many years - Angel; her dear friend and dance partner - "Wayngel"; we know that she is surrounded with as much love in Heaven as she was here on Earth.

Interment was held on Thursday, April 22nd, 2021 at the Houston National Cemetery on Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Houston Texas, officiated by Father John and Matushka Patricia Whiteford, with only family and a few, very close, personal friends.  This, in part, due to Covid restrictions.

The family is contemplating a memorial service to honor this incredible woman, sometime around the first anniversary of her passing. Please contact the family for further details.

Rest in peace, our dearest Anne! A beloved daughter, sister, mother and friend!