Shelley K. Selig

Rochelle "Shelley" Katzman Selig passed away peacefully, at her home, with her children by her side, on October, 14, 2026.

Shelley was born in Brooklyn, New York on January 31, 1937. Her parents were Joseph and Sara Katzman, who had both immigrated with their families to the United States from Belarus in the early 1900s. They raised Shelley and her younger sister, Beverly Katzman, in a loving Brooklyn home with many extended family members and friends living close by. Shelley attended and graduated from PS 208 and Erasmus Hall High School where she was an outstanding student.

Growing up in New York City, Shelley’s early life was shaped by the strong values instilled in her by her parents and varied experiences that made her who she was, a strong and independent person who cherished family and friendships, learning, culture, and sports. She learned how to navigate the world, crisscrossing the city on bus routes and subway lines.

Shelley came to Massachusetts to attend Brandeis University. After graduating in 1958, she returned briefly to New York City and greatly enjoyed working for Revlon in Manhattan. She soon returned to live in Brookline and then, for 60 years, in Newton, the area she had grown to love during college. By 1970, after having two children, Jane and Matthew, and getting divorced, Shelley was raising her family in a home filled with happiness and love and beginning her career as an educator.

She received a master’s degree in Elementary School Reading from Simmons College and a master’s degree in Upper Level High School Reading from Boston University. She taught special education in the Newton Public Schools, at Lincoln-Eliot Elementary, Bigelow Junior High School, and Newton South High School, for a total of 29 years.

As a devoted mom, Shelley provided her children with infinite love, nurturing, and protection. Their experiences together, in daily life at home and on regular family trips, brought her immeasurable joy and fulfillment.

When her children created their own families, Shelley extended all of her love and devotion to her daughter Jane Selig Goldstein’s husband, Jeff Goldstein, and their children, Andrew Goldstein and Emily Goldstein, and her son Matthew Selig’s wife, Catherine Annas, and their daughter, Anna Selig. She was adored and loved by all of them and will be deeply missed.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Centre Street Food Pantry at www.centrestfoodpantry.org/donate .

A funeral service will be held in the Chapel at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham Street, Sharon, on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., followed by burial.