Jill Ilene Morgenstern

On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, Jill Morgenstern (Herzberg) died from non-small cell carcinoma diagnosed in early January 2024. Dr. Tina Cascone at MD Anderson could not have asked for a better patient—Jill would follow her rules explicitly. Cancer damaged her body and spirit, but she fought with the hope that recovery was around the corner although her pain was enormous and the cancer’s march grinding. Through an oral, targeted mutation therapy, and rounds of chemotherapy, Jill strived to stay alive so that her family would know that she loved them and they would not think less of her if she passed; somehow Jill had concluded that if she died from cancer, someone (who?!) would think that her love was insufficient to provide her with cause enough to fight her illness and stay alive. Jill’s parenting was simply brilliant and crafted to raise adults with a morality that put kindness first then followed by always, always, making your word your bond. Oh, and love for cats, babies and silly made-up songs. Jill was a teacher, for a short time in HISD, then at Jewish day schools like Schlenker, Becker, Temple Beth El, and Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism. She loved her students and worked hard to prepare detailed lesson plans. She developed puppet shows teaching the story of Moses in a way children could connect with. No child was left behind in Jill’s classes; her keen eye was tuned to meet each child uniquely; she focused on their growth and studied their behavior to bring out the best they were capable of. Jill’s creative spirit showed in her writing, painting, photography, her KPFT radio show and love of music. Jill contributed to several books on children’s activities, and she wrote articles for parents’ magazines published around the country. For decades Jill volunteered at a Houston volunteer radio station, KPFT 90.1. At KPFT she brought Cassie, Jared, and Lielle to “help” during fund drives. Jill had her own show, Bayou Brew, for five years during the Saturday, 9am-12pm slot. Bayou Brew allowed her to introduce listeners to her favorite Texas singer-songwriters. The family would like to thank Jill’s aide, Jacqueline DeShaun Thompson, without whose help all our lives would have been more difficult these last 18 months. Jill was preceded in death by her beloved stepdaughter, Helen. Jill is survived by her parents, Donnie and Vickie Herzberg; brother, David Herzberg and family; daughter, Cassie Vu (Gonzales); Cassie’s husband, Kevin Vu; son, Jared Gonzales; daughter, Lielle Morgenstern; and husband, Ray Morgenstern. They grieve and mourn Jill’s death. A funeral service will take place on Friday, June 13, 2025, at 2:00pm in the Kagan-Rudy Chapel at Emanu El Memorial Park, 8341 Bissonnet Street, Houston, Texas 77074. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that gifts in Jill’s memory be made to any of the following charities: KPFT 90.1 Radio Station, www.KPFT.org, MD Anderson Cancer Center, www.mdanderson.org/donors-volunteers/donate.html, or Lungevity, a charity supporting lung cancer research, www.lungevity.org.

Jill Ilene Morgenstern

August 24, 1968 - June 11, 2025