Jo Leatrice Kritzler Tenenbaum — Joie, to everyone who knew her — died on April 10 at her home at Village Shalom in Overland Park, Kansas. She was surrounded by her family, who loved her immensely.
Joie was the daughter of Sigmond and Celia Pelofsky Kritzler of Kansas City, Kansas. They and her brother, Marvin, all predeceased her. Joie earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and later a master’s in speech pathology from the University of Kansas. She worked for 20 years as a speech therapist for the Kansas City Missouri School District. She was a lifelong member of Congregation Ohev Sholom, where she was in the first confirmation class taught by Rabbi Marshall Miller.
Joie was married to the love of her life, Harold, for almost 54 years until he passed away in 2002. She had three children within three years and loved being a mother to Mara (Mimi), Julie and Joe. She regarded her thriving family as her most important achievement. In the early 1960s, in response to an article in The Chronicle about a young boy who needed a temporary home, she and Harold eagerly added David Richard Bursten to the family.
Joie lived a full life with many interests and passions, including photography, water skiing, baking, cake decorating, running, tennis, entertaining at home and at restaurants, traveling, writing, performing and dancing. She danced with the Dazzlers, a senior tap dancing troupe, at nursing homes and senior centers all over the city. Ballroom dancing was another passion — she attended every dance she could find.
Like her mother before her, Joie made friends easily. She was steadfast in her commitment to her many close girlfriends. In her later years, as long as she was able to, she called and visited those who could no longer get out and about, whether at their homes or at hospitals or senior centers. She made sure they knew they were loved. When she could no longer get out and about herself, her internal sparkle kept the love flowing to those around her. When you were with her, she paid attention to you and cared about whatever you cared about. Her sense of humor was effervescent. Never was a woman so aptly named: Joie, Joy.
Most of all, Joie loved being surrounded by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She never wanted to miss a party… and a party was any occasion with more than one person in attendance.
The family thanks the caring staff of Village Shalom, with special appreciation to Winnie, Rachelle, Peggy, Tia, Lavonne and Val. They thank the staff of Monarch Hospice — Brooke, Reanna, Amanda and Sierra — who took care of Joie with expertise, compassion and grace in her final months. We could not have imagined the excellent level of care they offered to all of us. They also thank Sherry Price for her many kindnesses to Joie. Her weekly visits, filled with laughter and ice cream, meant so much to her. It took a lot of doing to include her in the monthly outings to see her speech therapy friends, but Sherry managed it.
Joie is survived by her devoted children, Mara Balke (Tom) of Overland Park, Kansas; Julie Tenenbaum (Kristopher) of Kansas City, Missouri; and Joseph Tenenbaum (Nancy) of Zikhron Ya’acov, Israel, and Springfield, New Jersey; as well as grandchildren Aaron Bretton of Overland Park; Michael Bretton (Shelby) of Overland Park; Allison Tenenbaum Shisgal (Etaiy) of Washington, D.C.; and Stephanie Tenenbaum Daon (Barak) of Zikhron Ya’acov. She also leaves her great-grandchildren, Addison Bretton of Emporia, Kansas; Jacob Bretton of Overland Park; Shaked, Noga, Adar and Gefen Daon, all of Zikhron Ya’acov; her nieces Marcia Egeland (Gabe) of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin; Marlene Kritzler of Chandler, Arizona; Marian Kritzler and her daughter, Michelle Kritzler, both of Lakewood, Colorado; Norma Hein of Olathe, Kansas; as well as other nieces and nephews. She also leaves David Richard Bursten, her foster son, who still remembers and treasures the love he received when he lived with the Tenenbaum family.
Services were held on April 13 at Louis Memorial Chapel. Interment followed at Mount Carmel Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Village Shalom, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Southern Poverty Law Center or a charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be left for the family louismemorialchapel.com.