Obituary of Thelma Katz

Thelma Lita Katz died on August 29, 2018. Lita had been resting comfortably in hospice care, after having suffered a series of strokes. Lita was born in Toronto, Canada, on January 19, 1930. Her family moved to Detroit when she was young, and she attended Cass Technical High School. She received her B.A. from Michigan State University, and later moved to Denver with her family. Lita taught in the Aurora public school system for many years, and was a loved and admired teacher who also mentored many younger teachers. She was an inveterate world traveler; she taught for a year in Australia, and traveled extensively in Europe, the Middle East, North and South America, and the Pacific. She had wide and varied interests, and particularly enjoyed reading, music, handicrafts, and mahjong. Most of all, Lita loved spending time with family and her many dear friends, including former colleagues, fellow synagogue members, neighbors, and others she met the world over. We will all remember Lita’s indomitable spirit and love of life. Lita was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Isadore Katz. She is survived by her son Harold Gunn and his husband Kelly Strader of Los Angeles, California, and their family; her daughter Susan Hailpern and her husband Brent Hailpern of Saratoga, California, and their family; and the family of her late husband, Isadore Katz. Services will be held at Congregation Rodef Shalom, 450 S. Kearney St., Denver, CO 80224, at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 2. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Congregation Rodef Shalom or to a charity of the donor’s choice.