‘Funny, Fun, Loving’ Anne Katz, Dedicated to Household, Dies at 78

Ellen Braunstein

Anne Katz, a faithful mom, grandmother, sister and pal, died on Nov. 3 at age 78. A lifelong Philadelphian, she was recognized for her heat, humor and devotion to household — and for the straightforward kindness she prolonged to everybody round her.

“She was just an all-around good-hearted person,” mentioned her son, Steven Katz. “She was reliable, trustworthy and loving — always doing for others.”

Born on June 22, 1947, in Northeast Philadelphia, Anne grew up in a close-knit Jewish family the place neighborhood and compassion have been each day classes. She attended Solomon Solis-Cohen Elementary School and Northeast High School, graduating in 1965. Her father ran quite a lot of small companies earlier than working as an insurance coverage salesman for Prudential, whereas her mom, Sylvia, was a homemaker who stuffed the house with heat and Jewish custom. Katz shared a particular bond along with her youthful brother, Arthur (Art) Shumsky, that lasted all through their lives.

As a young person, Anne was energetic in United Synagogue Youth, the place she developed a love of Jewish life and neighborhood involvement. “That’s what inspired me to join USY, too,” mentioned her daughter, Andrea Keck. “She always spoke about how much those years meant to her.”
Katz met her future husband, Melvin (Mel) Katz, at a pal’s wedding ceremony, and the 2 shortly turned inseparable. They married in 1969 and constructed a heat, joyful dwelling collectively in Northeast Philadelphia, elevating Andrea and Steven with a shared humorousness and deep affection. “They were married 42 years, and they were truly a team,” Keck mentioned.

For a few years, Katz devoted herself to her household as a full-time mom. Once her youngsters have been in class, she labored part-time at Caplan’s youngsters’s clothes retailer at Roosevelt Mall, a job she loved for the social connections as a lot because the work itself. Later, she discovered her calling as an workplace supervisor in a number of dental and periodontal practices. “She really loved working in dentistry,” Keck mentioned. “She liked helping people and being part of a team that made others feel better.”

Katz additionally gave her time as a volunteer with the Deborah Heart & Lung Center, impressed by her lifelong compassion for others and her perception in service.

Her life was filled with inventive expression and pleasure. During the Eighties and ’90s, she carried out in neighborhood musical theater, singing and performing with a confidence that delighted family and friends. “She had a beautiful voice,” Keck mentioned. “She loved being on stage — it made her so happy.”

A lifelong animal lover, Katz’s affection for creatures of every kind turned one in all her defining traits. As a lady, she was recognized for bringing dwelling stray cats, geese and even a child alligator as soon as gifted by her father on a visit to Florida. As an grownup, she saved canines and parakeets. “She never smoked a day in her life,” Keck mentioned, “but she was allergic to the bird dander from her parakeets. Even after the doctors told her to give them up, she missed them so much she eventually got birds again. That’s how much she loved animals.”

Katz was happiest when surrounded by her household — particularly her three grandchildren, Justin, Julia and Mason. “She called them her heartbeat,” Andrea mentioned. “She quit her job when I had my first child so she could come to my house every single day to take care of the baby. She’d drive half an hour each way and stay all day, playing on the floor, feeding, changing, doing everything. Nobody loves your child like your mother — that’s what she taught me.”

Even after her husband died in 2012, Anne remained energetic and impartial. She shared along with her son a love of sports activities, usually calling him to speak concerning the Phillies. “She was funny and fun to be around,” he mentioned. “She loved talking baseball and just staying connected.”

Anne Katz lived her life guided by Jewish values of kindness and household. Though she by no means had the prospect to go to Israel, it was a lifelong dream. “She had a ticket to go visit her longtime friend Renee, who moved there years ago,” Steven mentioned. “She’d waited her whole life for that trip. But then she got sick and couldn’t go.”

Anne battled pulmonary fibrosis for a number of years, a situation that worsened over time regardless of her resilience and optimism. She spent her last two years at Masonic Village in Lafayette Hill, surrounded by household.

Her youngsters keep in mind her as the center of the household — a girl who gave every part she needed to the individuals she beloved. “She always put others first,” Keck mentioned. “Her grandchildren were her world, and her love for them never wavered. That’s what we’ll remember most.”