Nancy Dziengel

Nancy Melnick Dziengel passed away peacefully on November 20, 2022. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Esther and Woody Fox, her grandchildren, Cari and Jack Brandt, Lisa and Eric Cohen, her great grandchildren, Ryan and Morgan Brandt, Tyler and Clay Cohen. She is also survived by her brother, Harry Melnick and brother-in-law, Jimmy Ormsby and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Michael Dziengel, and by her parents, Dina and Joseph Melnick and sisters Betty Wolf, Pauline Fishel and Jennie Ormsby. Nancy was born on January 25, 1926 in Pultusk, Poland. Before the war Nancy lived a fairly normal life. She went to a Polish girls school with a few Jewish girls and many non-Jewish girls. When they were taught Christianity in class, the Jewish children were allowed to leave. She practiced her religion, and a teacher came to their house to teach them Hebrew and Judaism. She was 13 years old in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland. Nancy and her mother, Dina, and her siblings, ages 18 months to 11 years, were waiting for her father, Joseph, to arrange for the family to emigrate to the United States. Her father, Joseph, had come to America in 1938 as a non-quota because his parents, sisters and brothers were already in Houston. Nancy and her family survived because Michael Dziengel, who had a brother and family living in the same building as Nancy, helped Dina and her five children to escape from Poland. He was able to get a horse and wagon and they traveled from Pultusk to several cities in Poland miraculously staying just ahead of the advancing German army. When they arrived in Bialystok it was under Russian control. From Bialystok they rode on a train for 3 weeks to arrive in Orsk, Russia on January 1, 1940. They survived very harsh conditions in Orsk throughout the war. On June 22, 1944 Nancy married Michael who had fallen in love with her. Two years later their daughter Esther was born. In March of 1946 the entire family was allowed to leave Russia. They returned to Poland to search for Michael’s family, but learned they had all been killed. They then lived in a relocation camp in Germany until 1948. In 1948 Nancy’s mother and siblings were able to go to New York by ship and then to Houston. Nancy, Michael and Esther left Germany and went to Havana, Cuba until they could get visas to emigrate to Houston. They lived in Havana for three years until 1951 when they were able to get visas and come to Houston to join the rest of the family. Nancy did not have a formal education beyond age 13 but spoke four languages when she came to Houston – Yiddish, Polish, Russian, Spanish. In Houston she learned English. In Houston Nancy and family lived with her parents until they bought a small frame house on Felix Street in Houston East End. Two of her sisters and husbands lived on the same street as did her parents. Nancy took bookkeeping classes and English classes and Michael worked with his father-in-law selling used cars. In 1972 Nancy and Michael started their own used car dealership and worked side-by-side until 1999 when they closed the car lot and retired. After that they worked together for many years at Houston Auto Auction. In1960 Nancy and Michael built a house in Woodshire. Her three sisters and their families had already moved to the same neighborhood. Michael passed away in 2013 but Nancy remained in this house until 2017 when it flooded. Nancy and Michael would do everything possible to help their daughter, grandchildren and great grandchildren prosper in all their endeavors. She was a wonderful cook who made wonderful matzo ball soup and many Jewish recipes for Friday night dinners and all the holidays. Nancy and Michael would also baby sit their grandchildren and great grandchildren and loved watching many TV shows together. Nancy was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Her life centered around her family and Judaism. She moved into the Village of Meyerland after her house flooded in 2017 during Hurricane Harvey. She had many friends there and loved to play bingo and see the singers and dancers that came to entertain the residents. During the past year, at the age of 96, Nancy needed more care and she had several wonderful caregivers help her - Alicia, Nikki, Ana, Angelica and Maria. They loved Nancy and helped her daily to continue being independent. Nancy had a long life and her family was fortunate to have her be independent during this time. She was walking on her own and was mentally competent until the end. Nancy did not read much while she was younger and working, but in the last five years she discovered Danielle Steele books. She read all she could find. The Bellaire Library would call her granddaughter whenever there was a new book, and they would hold it for her. The funeral will be held in the Bender Memorial Chapel at Beth Yeshurun Post Oak Cemetery, 7445 Awty Schhol Ln., Houston, TX 77055, at 11:00 am on Tuesday, November 22, 2022. There will be a livestream (https://venue.streamspot.com/f8d04b5b). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Congregation Beth Yeshurun, Holocaust Museum Houston or the Bellaire Library.

Nancy Dziengel

January 25, 1926 - November 20, 2022