Shirley Green Katzin was born January 20, 1937 in Cleveland, Ohio to adoring parents Dora and Isaac Green. At age 10 her family moved to Knoxville, TN, where her father was from. Shirley grew up in Knoxville surrounded by aunts, uncles, cousins and of course her parents and beloved sister Rita. Those same relatives set her up on a date with Emanuel “Mac” Katzin of Winston Salem, NC in February of 1961. The couple hit it off immediately and married on October 15 of the same year and eventually moved to Houston. Shirley and Mac had an incredibly strong 59 year marriage filled with laughter, intellectual pursuits, wonderful travels, family and good friends.
Shirley was a dedicated social worker who spent the bulk of her decades long career working with children and families through Harris County Child Protective Services. She worked in various CPS units helping families access medical care, placing children with relatives and in foster homes when they were in unsafe situations, counseling families on how to parent effectively and manage stress and helping teenagers who were under guardianship of the state of Texas. She was industrious, committed and nurturing.
Shirley excelled most as wife to Mac and mother to daughters Sheryl and Norri. She and Mac made many wonderful friends in Houston – many of whom they referred to as “Houston mishpacha”. They took countless trips – many with Shirley’s sister Rita Wasserman and brother in law Arnie. Shirley loved adventures and she and Mac road tripped to huge swaths of the United States and also traveled abroad to many countries. Shirley was a giant of a mother to Sheryl and Norri. She offered practical and valuable advice, encouragement and support. She and Mac built a lively, engaging Jewish home for their daughters. Shirley was also a doting grandmother who hosted Shabbat dinners every week for granddaughters Jordan and Sami.
Shirley has an especially connected network of extended family that have been huge supports to her and her immediate family over the last couple of years. Cousins from around the country have checked in on her as she navigated physical illness. She was beloved by all of them.
Shirley was an active member of Congregation Brith Shalom, including its weekly women’s study group. She was a lifetime member of Hadassah and National Council of Jewish Women. Shirley was a vibrant force who put good into the world. She will be sorely missed.
Donations may be made to Congregation Brith Shalom and MD Anderson Cancer Center.
A private funeral service was held on Thursday, November 19, 2020.
To view a recording of the service, please use the following directions:
Go to the website, www.bethyeshurun.org, then
Click on Transitions at the top of the page, then
Click on Cemetery: Bender Memorial Chapel Streaming Video
Please leave remembrances and messages of condolence for the family below.
Shiva Minyan will take place on Zoom:
Thursday, November 19 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, November 21 at 7:00 PM
Sunday, November 22 at 7:00 PM
Zoom link (for all three dates):
https://brithshalom-org.zoom.us/j/96878437229
Meeting ID: 968 7843 7229
Passcode: 864836
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.9.6