Louette Weiser

Louette Kestenberg Weiser, born in Houston, TX on July 27, 1933, died peacefully on October, 4, 2020 at the Austin home of her son David after a long battle with heart and blood disorders. Her life was filled with family and friends. Despite tragic personal losses over the years, Louette emphatically emphasized the good in people and the good in life. She will be remembered and missed by all who knew her. Louette was a strong-willed, independent child. As an infant, while watching cows feeding in a field, Louette's mother Frieda said the two year-old Louette declared emphatically "Moo-cow won't hurt baby." Growing up in Houston, Louette enjoyed jumping rope, catching fireflies, and won the jacks championship sponsored by a local recreation center. The victory came at a cost; her fingers calloused and bled during game sessions with friends that lasted long after the sun went down. Car journeys would be a regular part of her life, including frequent trips sitting beside her sister Estelle as her family drove from Houston to Boulder, Colorado where her father Louis earned his PhD in History from the University of Colorado. Louette also participated in piano recitals and enjoyed summer camp. After graduating from San Jacinto High School, Louette attended Rice University, graduating with a BA in English. During a Hillel dance party, she met Dan Weiser, and they were soon engaged. They were only 20 years old. Texas law at the time required men under 21 to obtain parental permission before marriage; the same law allowed women to marry without parental permission if they were 18. Fortunately for all, both sets of parents approved of Louette and Dan's marriage. As Dan earned his Mathematics PhD at Rice, Louette supported him by typing his complicated dissertation on a manual typewriter. After the birth of their first son Alan, Dan and Louette moved to the Oak Cliff neighborhood in Dallas where they raised four sons. Louette supported Dan's work in those early years by looking after the children and typing complicated scientific documents for his work at Mobil Corporation. As her children grew older, Louette followed her mother's profession becoming a kindergarten and first grade teacher. Shifting careers, she worked in many capacities for the Dallas Public Library, first as a book-repairer and clerical worker at the Camp Wisdom branch and later as a technical document specialist and proof-reader at the downtown Dallas main library. For a two year period, she also worked as the Board Liaison to the Friends of the Dallas Public Library. Favorite Library activities included designing displays with her donated early American Girl dolls and helping coordinate the opening of the Children's Center which featured a plate glass photo of her granddaughter Lauren. Louette supported her husband's political activities. Highlights included attending parties hosted by Governor Ann Richards and attending the 1976 Democratic convention in New York City. After meeting soon-to-be First Lady and Georgia native Rosalynn Carter, Louette proudly told her, "My daughter-in-law Mary Ann grew up in Savannah." Louette and Dan's many trips included attending the Mexico City 1968 Olympics. Their return to Dallas included a harrowing ride through stormy weather in a small propeller plane. They also visited Paris and Israel with granddaughters Lauren and Julia. In London, Louette's feet began to hurt during long walks. Back in Dallas, she found out she was suffering from gout, but she had soldiered on to finish all the planned activities. Louette was an active patron of the arts, frequently attending performances at Casa Manana in Fort Worth and The Dallas Repertory Theater at North Park where she enjoyed seeing her close friend Margie Herbert perform. She also enjoyed watching her sons Martin, David, and Michael perform in summer program plays and school concerts and musicals. She was also a devoted member of Temple Emanu-El for more than 60 years, taking pride in the beautiful services and excellent programming. Louette had a passion for miniatures, and she was one of the founders of The Dallas Miniature Museum. She most enjoyed the annual "Miniature Mayfest" which included participation of many highly skilled craftsmen and other enthusiasts. Even with her success as wife, mother and Library staffer, Louette's most rewarding role was Beloved Grandmommy. She spent countless hours caring for and playing with her nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren. They provided her with infinite delight and joy. She would do anything for them. After Dan's health declined, the couple moved from their Oak Cliff home to the Reserve Senior Center in North Dallas. Dan passed away in 2015. Louette stayed on at the Reserve, making many friends. After Covid-19 became a risk, Louette moved to her son Martin's home in Dallas and later to Austin with David. She was appreciative and uncomplaining to the end. At the most recent family reunion in 2018, Louette was surprised to learn that she had apparently become the oldest surviving cousin of the extended Miron family. She loved family gatherings, large and small, Passover and Thanksgiving, food and fanfare. She especially enjoyed the minor chaos of children in attendance. The family would like to thank the many caregivers that helped make Louette's home hospice experience as restful and enjoyable as possible. Louette was preceded in death by parents Frieda and Louis Kestenberg, husband Dan and her son and daughter-in-law Alan and Mary Ann Weiser. Survivors include sister and brother-in-law Estelle and Don Singer, sister-in-law Lily Kanter, sons and daughters-in-law, Martin Weiser and Donna Miller, David Weiser and Mary Crouter, and Michael and Jenny Weiser, grandchildren Lauren (Will), Julia (Treeman), Leah (fiancée Jeremy Aidem), Nathan, Daniel, Leo, Aaron, Sarah, and Rachel, great grandchildren Mary Louise and Annie, many nieces, nephews, and cousins, and close friend Margie Herbert. Services and remembrance via remote streaming are being planned. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Temple Emanu-El Clergy Good Works Fund.

Louette Weiser

July 27, 1933 - October 4, 2020