June Sherman

June Director Sherman passed away on Monday, February 27, 2017, just two days shy of her 92 nd birthday. She is survived by her daughters April (Albert) Hiller and Melanie (Thomas) Kauffman, as well as her sister, Sandra Pryzant. She also leaves behind nine grandchildren: Aaron (Elinor), David (Lauren), Zachary (Donna), Rachel, Alana and Elliot; four great-grandchildren: Joseph, Alexander, Daniel and Lyla; and devoted nieces and nephews. June was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Sherman, and her brother Howard Director. Born the middle child of Elinore and Abraham Director, June was a proud New Yorker. She grew up in a three-generational home which was loud and boisterous - over 50 aunts and uncles and 100 first cousins. June's children knew that she was always in their corner and would always go to bat for them. Beautifully dressed and always current with the latest fashions and trends, June was a maven of propriety and social consciousness in both word and action. As her mother did before her, June took care of both her mother and her mother-in- law, without hesitation and to the best of her ability. June grew up poor, lost her father as a teenager, and found herself a 45-year old widow with two young daughters, but these adversities made her stronger and more determined to provide for herself and her daughters. June was the Membership Director at the Houston JCC for 37 years, the first Membership Director at any JCC in the country. June created the rubric for, and managed, the scholarship program at the Houston JCC and traveled across the country to conduct seminars for JCC staff on implementing membership services. She was as dedicated to her job as she was to her family as she quietly and diligently worked to restore dignity and normalcy to thousands of needy families by connecting them with scholarships and services in the community. No higher compliment could be paid to June than those who stopped her children to tell them about her kindness decades before when they first arrived in Houston or found themselves in need. June lived a life that mattered. She is leaving the world a better place. The family wishes to give personal thanks to Harriet Williams, Sabina Mwingara, Lucy Mrema, and especially Gwen Meza, all of whom loved and cared for June in her later years with the deepest devotion. The family's gratitude also goes to Dr. Henderson and the nursing staff of Vitas at Seven Acres, led by Isabelle, whose compassion and commitment allowed June to live to the end with dignity. Donations may be made to Congregation Beth Yeshurun Inclusion Fund, the ERJCC Children's Scholarship Fund or Camp Young Judaea-Texas.

June Sherman

March 1, 1925 - February 27, 2017