Georgianne Pravecek, 90, passed away Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at Good Samaritan Society in Scotland.

Visitation will be held 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with a 7 p.m. rosary and wake, Tuesday, August 4, at St. George Catholic Church in Scotland.

A Funeral Mass with celebrant Fr. Thi Pham is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 5 at St. George Catholic Church. Burial will be at a later date.

Georgianne (Podzimek) Pravecek was born April 25, 1936, in rural Dante, to John and Mary (Sedlacek) Podzimek. She grew up on a farm 3 ½ miles northeast of Dante. She attended a rural school through 6th grade, and then attended St. Wenceslaus Catholic School in Tabor for 7th and 8th grade. She boarded at the school and rode the bus home on weekends. During the winter, when roads were bad, she stayed at school for several weeks at a time. The Benedictine Sisters at the school had a great influence on her. It was here that Georgianne started taking piano lessons and this began her interest and love of music.

In August of 1950, after completing 8th grade, Georgianne entered Sacred Heart Convent in Yankton. She attended Mt. Marty High School which she completed in three years.

In June of 1953, Georgianne entered the Novitiate and received the name Sister Maria Goretti and in June of 1954 she took her temporary vows. She earned a 1-year teaching certificate at Mt. Marty College and began her teaching career in 1955.

During High School and College, Georgianne continued piano and organ lessons. Her first teaching assignments were Catechism classes during the summers of 1954 and 1955 in Scotland and Pierre. From 1955-1957 she taught grades 1-4 in Farmer, at St. Peter’s Catholic School, gave piano lessons, and was the church organist. In the summer of 1956, she once again spent two weeks in Pierre, teaching Catechism.

In May of 1957, Georgianne returned to her parents’ home in Tyndall. She became the organist at St. Leo’s Catholic Church. In the fall, she taught all eight grades in a rural school near Dante — the school she attended as a child. In the fall of 1958, she took a job at Fantle’s Department Store in Yankton, and then in May of 1959, she returned to Tyndall. During her summers in Tyndall, she worked at Marek’s and Ranek’s Cafes. In the fall of 1959, she began teaching at Wysuph rural school near Tyndall.

Georgianne met her husband, Robert, in August of 1958. They resided in Tyndall and got married on May 10, 1960, at St. Leo’s Catholic Church. She taught at Bambas rural school during 1960-1961. In February of 1961, her son, Michael, was born. Georgianne took a total of two weeks off from teaching after he was born.

During the school year 19611962, she taught at the Koupal rural school east of Tyndall. In late 1961 the family moved to rural Scotland. Georgianne began teaching at the Geishert rural school west of Scotland in the fall of 1962. In June of 1963, they moved to Scotland. In December of 1964, the family moved on a farm one mile west of Kaylor. Georgianne continued teaching at the Geishert school until 1968. She was also the organist at the Vodnany Catholic church and taught CCD classes there.

In the fall of 1968, Georgianne started her 26-year teaching career at Kaylor school. She taught grades 4-8 until 1970, when the district reorganized with Scotland at which time she taught grades 4-6 in Kaylor. Also in 1968, she became the organist at St. George’s Catholic church in Scotland and did this for 50+ years.

In 1994, because of further consolidation, Georgianne started teaching 6th grade in Scotland. She retired from full-time teaching in 1998 — having completed 42 years in the classroom. However, because teaching meant so much to her, she returned as a substitute whenever she was called — in the Scotland and Bon Homme schools.

Aside from the classroom, Georgianne was a hard-working farm wife and mother. Her greatest joy was her family, especially her grandchildren (Gavin and Rachel). Besides her love of music, she enjoyed reading, gardening, and being with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Georgianne is survived by her son, Michael (Karen) Pravecek of Scotland; grandson, Gavin (Jessica) Pravecek of Tyndall; granddaughter, Rachel (Logan) Tycz of Tyndall; five great-grandchildren, Ava, Gavin Jr., Jaxyn, Jaidyn and Kasyn; four step-great-grandchildren, Kylie, Xavier, Tammy and Bobby, and many nieces, nephews, relatives, friends, and former students which she considered her children.

Georgianne was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; parents, John and Mary Podzimek; two sisters, Mary Geldner and Clara Nedved; three brothers, John, Louis, and Steve Podzimek; several in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and Max — her special canine buddy.