Margaret Smajstrla
Margaret & her family have been members of St. Richard’s since 2002. She was born in Concord, California but got to Texas as fast as she could when her family moved to Dallas when she was 3 months old. Margaret grew up in Dallas and Denton and is currently trying to cope with the pain of being a life-long Dallas Cowboys fan.
She met her husband Jim at Texas A&M University and they married in 1986. They have 3 children: Ann, Thomas and Lauren. Ann and Thomas live in Austin and Lauren is currently teaching English in South Korea. All 3 kids were active in Sunday school and EYC at St. Richard’s.
She graduated from Texas Woman’s University with a bachelor’s degree in Nursing. Mainly working in pediatrics and newborn nursery, in her 38 rewarding years she has worked at Parkland Hospital and Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center, and is currently working at the Dell Children’s Medical Group Pediatric Gastroenterology Clinic.
Margaret grew up in the Disciples of Christ church and Jim in the Catholic church. They were introduced to St. Richard’s and the Episcopal church when Lauren was a student at the preschool. Jim and Margaret were drawn in by the warmth of the congregation and staff as well as Holy Communion being central to the worship service. Over the years she has helped with VBS, Sunday School and in the Pumpkin Patch. Serving on Altar Guild has been a deeply meaningful ministry for her for over 15 years. Becoming a vestry member would be an honor and another opportunity for service, spiritual growth and to grow in fellowship with the community of St. Richard’s.
