Penny Buenger

Penny was born in Pasadena, Texas on October 26, 1949, to Mary Ann Nowak (nee Kocurek) and Theodore Frank Nowak. As soon as her feet touched the ground, she ran. Her father once remarked that all he saw when Penny played outside was a blur with braided pigtails blown straight back zipping across the yard. Penny often reminisced about summers spent with her younger cousins, Jim and Scott Sabrsula, and her Aunt Betty and Uncle Herman Sabrsula. Donned in costumes hand sewn, sequined, and beaded by her mother, she danced, tapped, and performed en pointe. A notable performance included a solo tap routine set to "Pennies From Heaven" at the Houston Music Hall. Her mother's sewing skills followed Penny through Pasadena High School where she was, among other things, the Head Cheerleader and the Homecoming Queen for the class of 1968. Penny then sped off in her Volkswagen Beetle to Stephen F. Austin State University to obtain her Bachelor of Arts degree and a teaching certificate.

After college, Penny made her way to Austin, Texas where she loved living most on Comanche Trail overlooking Lake Travis. Her adventures included writing briefly for a newspaper and working as a Legislative Assistant to State Representative John R. Bigham where she may or may not have gone streaking through the Texas Capitol Rotunda and shaken President Jimmy Carter's hand. During her time in Austin, she birthed her only biological child, Robin Amber Kilgore, whom she loved taking to The Cove on Lake Travis and Hippy Hollow with friends and other water babies. The winds of change blew her back to Pasadena to be closer to family and to enjoy time as a stay-at-home mother until her daughter started third grade.

Penny found her professional passion when she put her teaching certificate to use and started her career at Jackson Intermediate School where she taught sixth grade English, Speech and Theatre Arts. Next, the Pasadena High School alum made a bold choice to accept a position as a Freshman Pre-Advanced Placement English teacher at rival school, Sam Rayburn High School, where she remained almost until retirement, making a short stop at South Houston High School. Penny was a favorite teacher among her students. Many of her former students kept in touch with her long after graduation. It was not uncommon to find them at her kitchen table. Penny may have birthed one child, but she mothered hundreds. Additionally, though she did not have any biological grandchildren, she enjoyed doting on multiple kiddos of friends and neighbors.

In November of 1996, Penny married Houston Police Officer, Leon S. Buenger at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Round Top, Texas. In their almost 30 years together, they enjoyed traveling together and with friends, clocking almost 25,000 miles a year on motorcycles with the Retreads. When two wheels weren't enough, the couple upgraded to six as they loaded into their motorhome to join the GMC Motorhome Group at parks all over Texas. Anniversaries were spent enjoying live music at The Big Band Bash in the Texas Hill Country. December was a busy month for the couple. For almost 15 years, in mid-December, they opened their home for family and friends for their day-long, Annual Turkey Fry during which attendees were encouraged to bring a turkey to be deep-fried and then taken home to enjoy at their own holiday gatherings. The record number of turkeys fried during one party was 35! For nearly 20 years, the couple rang in the New Year at The Hill Top Cafe in Cherry Spring, Texas. Sometime in the middle, Penny started putting streaks of purple, pink, or blue in what she called her "concert hair," and the couple started going to see bands like The Rolling Stones, Elton John, The Eagles, Paul McCartney, Asleep at the Wheel, and more. Penny loved to leave Robin garbled voicemails of recordings of her favorite songs during these concerts in an attempt to bring her along. After retirement, the couple settled in Seabrook, Texas to be closer to the bay.

In her quiet time, Penny could be found with her nose in a book or watching television with a cat on her lap. She loved dancing in the kitchen, talking with friends, turquoise jewelry, quirky lawn art, and anything tie-dyed.

After a well-lived and highly-spirited life, Penny developed renal failure and spent the last three years HATING dialysis. When she was done, she was done and initiated hospice care at home. She died as she lived, on her own terms, with Leon, Robin, and her stepson, Daniel Buenger, at her side after a parade of visits and calls from friends and loved ones.

The family would like to express gratitude to those who were a part of Penny's care and family support team: Dr. Kent Schnell, Dr. Chau Vu, Selisha Lynch of US Renal, Jay Palma, her in-home dialysis nurse, CNO Josh Allbright, Jennifer Basciano and Judy Partin of Visiting Angels-Galveston, Meghan, Tracey, Diane, and Joy from Anchor Hospice, her hairdresser and dear friend, Bonnie Winthrop, daughter-in-law Caroline Buenger, long-time family caretaker and friend, Shari LeReau, housekeeper Michelle Smith, Jessica and Matthew from Dignity Memorial, and Sara and Lori from Grandview Funeral Home. It truly takes a village to walk someone home.

As per her wishes, Penny will be cremated and there will be no funeral services. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to a charity of your choosing in her honor.