Thomas Edward Lichenstein

Thomas (Tommy) Edward Lichenstein, 81, passed away on Sunday, December 3, 2017. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, the son of Robert and Celeste Lichenstein, twin brother to deceased Johnny Lichenstein, Tommy leaves his wife, Penny Lichenstein, of 51 years, his daughter, Dorothy Paredes, son-in-law, Isaac Paredes, sister, Jennie Jones, brother, Bobby Lichenstein, and niece, who he loved as his daughter, Carla Jones. Tommy was also blessed with several beautiful nieces, Diane Freeman, Amy Barnett, and Carolyn Hall, handsome nephews, Dell Denney, Jeffery Denney, and Randy Hall, great-nieces, Taylor and Stella Freeman, great-nephew, Parker Freeman; close extended family Dorothy Burks, Vie and Wendell Denney, Jerome and Barbara Barnett, and his many, many close friends.

Tommy met his wife, Penny, through Scouting and they were married in 1966 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Houston, Texas. In their early years, Tommy and Penny owned two businesses, a cake decorating business and a Mexican Restaurant.

In 1971, Tommy and Penny started their life in Austin, Texas, and adopted their daughter, the light in Tommy’s eyes, in 1979.

He began his career with the City of Austin, Electric Department, in 1971, as a Safety Trainer where he implemented city-wide CPR, Defensive Driving, Save the Back, and First Aid programs that contributed to improving the overall well-being of many city employees. He retired in 1997.

Tommy and Penny begin their life at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church around 1981, where throughout the last 36 years he met and loved many friends all of whom became family to him and Penny. He served the St. Catherine’s community as a Eucharistic Minister, Knights of Columbus member, BeFrienders, Interfaith, CEW and ACTS organizer and cook, and 6th-8th grade CCD instructor.

Tommy also worked for and served numerous organizations as a volunteer or organizer including the National Safety Association, Care Team AIDS of Austin, Rape Crisis Center of Austin, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Austin, Keep Austin Beautiful, Boy Scouts of Houston, and Legion of Mary of Houston.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Thursday, December 7, 2017 at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home with a Recitation of the Rosary at 7:00 P.M. Mass of Celebration will be at 2:00 P.M., Friday, December 8, 2017 at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 4800 Convict Hill Road. Interment will follow at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Memorial Park with a reception afterwards. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Tommy’s life.

Honoring Tommy as pallbearers will be Isaac Paredes, Paul Root, Gary Moore, Frank Marchan, Jeff Denney, and Dell Denney. Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Harris and John Munoz.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like contributions to be made in Tommy’s memory to the charity of your choice.