Janice Katz
Dec. 19, 1935-July 30, 2022
Janice Katz
Janice Katz, a retired special education teacher and revered member of the Jewish and Bay Area communities for decades, passed away at home on July 30, 2022 after a five-month battle with cancer. She was 86.
A resident of San Mateo County for more than 50 years, Janice considered Peninsula Temple Sholom her second home. Among her many contributions to the Sholom community, she prepared and delivered welcome baskets for new members; served as a religious school committee member; and for 15 years co-chaired the Gemilut Chasadim committee, which brought support and comfort to those facing personal challenges. In 2015, Sholom Women honored her with its Woman of Valor award. She also co-chaired the North Peninsula Yom HaShoah committee for three years.
Born in El Paso, Texas, to Lithuanian immigrants who loved their new country, Janice was the youngest of two daughters. Living on the U.S./Mexico border, she learned to speak fluent Spanish and later served for 11 years as a Spanish interpreter and volunteer coordinator for Samaritan House, a free medical clinic in San Mateo that serves patients who can't afford care.
Together with the love of her life, her late husband Dr. Irving Katz, she collected art and appreciated symphony, opera, and theater. She made vibrant, creative flower arrangements for all occasions, often with blooms Irving grew in their garden. Irving liked to refer to Janice as the "Jewish Mother Teresa."
Janice is survived by her loving son Andrew and adoring daughters Leslie (Jonathan) and Rachel (Andy). She is also survived by her brothers-in-law Bernard Katz and Bruce Katz and sister-in-law Shirley Nussbaum. Nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends of all ages cherished her thoughtful, generous heart and turned to her for advice and wisdom. Her calendar was filled with hundreds of reminders for birthdays (both human and pet), as well as anniversaries, graduations and yahrzeits, and she made calls and sent cards for every occasion.
The family asks that those who wish to send a donation consider Peninsula Temple Sholom; Samaritan House; or Home and Hope, which aids the homeless.