Nina Tannenbaum, 94, of Kyle, Texas, passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, August 31, 2025. She was born on July 31, 1931, in Coama, Puerto Rico, to Juan Rodriguez and Tomasa Torres. Nina earned a master’s degree in nursing from Fresno State College and became a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She worked in the hospital and Dr.s office and became one of the first visiting nurses in California doing home health and training home health aides. She worked for the VNA in Montgomery County and then for the Texas Department of Health in the division of Maternal and Child Health. While there she was a consultant traveling in Texas and Colombia to speak about maternal and child health nursing in the USA.
Nina Volunteered for the Montgomery County Assistance League that provides philanthropic services for Montgomery County for those in need. She volunteered her time at the thrift shop fundraising for projects for needy families. In 2001 she participated in Operation School Bell, which provided school clothes for over 4000 needy children.
Nina was very religious and loved to sing. She had a beautiful voice, and her children have many happy memories of hearing her sing. She would sing as a child with her older sister Minita and they were known as “Las Hermanas Benigna” as they both accidentally were named Benigna. Nina was known as Carmelita growing up. She was very involved with the Catholic Church, teaching Catechism and singing in the choir and volunteering as a Eucharistic Minister. Nina was a member and active in the following parishes: Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, San Luis Obispo, California, Saint Josephs Catholic Church, New Waverly, Texas, Saint Matthews Catholic Church in San Antonio, Texas, and Saint Anthony Marie De Claret Catholic Church in Kyle, Texas. Nina loved to travel, and she crocheted blankets for hospice patients and made all of her children’s clothes. Above all, she was a loving wife and giving mother to her three children.
Nina was preceded in death by her parents and her two husbands, Daniel Tannenbaum and Leopold Ortiz. She is survived by her son Frank Tannenbaum; daughters Sarah Byrnes and husband Steven and Miriam Tannenbaum; stepsons Thomas and Leo Paul Ortiz; stepdaughters Loise and Joann Ortiz; grandson Dylan Byrnes; step granddaughters Raquel J. Varela and Almo Sofia Ortiz; granddaughter in law Michaela Byrnes and numerous nieces, nephews, family members and friends.
A funeral service for Nina will be held Thursday, September 4, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at St Joseph Catholic Church, 101 Elmore St, New Waverly, TX 77358. A graveside service will occur Thursday, September 4, 2025 from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM at Garden Park Cemetery, 801 Teas Rd, Conroe, TX 77303. A visitation will occur Wednesday, September 3, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a Rosary to begin at 7:00 pm at Cashner Funeral Home, 801 Teas Road, Conroe, TX 77303.
