Dr. Katie Irani, was born in Bombay, India on August 18, 1933, to parents Gulcher and Rustomji Desai. She grew up in the Dadar Parsi colony as the third of 6 siblings. Gifted in science, strong in will, and passionate about serving her community from a young age, Katie attended Grant Medical College in Bombay, India. There, she met her husband of 39 years, the late Dr. Dinshaw Irani. The two graduated in 1957 and were married in 1961.
While in Bombay, Katie worked in the Municipal Clinic. She had her children: Adel in 1963 and Maynaaz in 1966. In 1969, the family moved to Houston, Texas. In the US, Katie completed her medical residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Baylor College of Medicine and began a career in the Texas Medical Center. Katie mainly practiced at Ben Taub Hospital where she became the Chief of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
As a practicing Zoroastrian, Katie played a major role in building and nurturing the Houston Zoroastrian Community throughout her lifetime. She was a founding member of the Zoroastrian Association of Houston and has remained very involved in community events and charitable work. Highlights of her many contributions include: At the 2000 World Congress, Katie mobilized the ZAH Medical Team that still remains available to assist our community, Katie and Dinshaw were amongst the first to make monetary donations during the drive to build a Zoroastrian Center in Houston including funding the Katie and Dinshaw Irani Prayer Room, Katie later funded the Dinshaw Irani Memorial Fountain after the death of her husband. In addition, during her fifty years in Houston, she served as President of the ZAH.
Katie is preceded in death by her parents, Gulcher and Rustomji Desai; her husband, Dr. Dinshaw Irani; her brother, Adi Desai; and her sister, Nargesh Desai. She is survived by her children, Adel Irani and Maynaaz Olson; their loving spouses, Natasha Irani and Matthew Olson; and her siblings Khorshed, Freny, and Farokh Desai. She is also survived by her seven grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews. Affectionately called “Granny,” many of the most joyous and beloved moments from Katie’s last 24 years have been with her grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Zoroastrian Association of Houston, directed toward either the Katie and Dinshaw Irani Prayer Room Maintenance Fund or to the Dinshaw Irani Memorial Fountain Maintenance Fund in Katie’s honor.
The family also asks that if you have any stories, photos, anecdotes or kind words to share about Katie please email them to Adel Irani at [email protected]. Adel is planning on compiling a book of
Katie’s life through the remembrances of her family and friends.
A funeral service for Katie will be held Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 1:00 PM at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77077. Following the funeral service will be a witness cremation at Chapel of Eternal Peace Crematory, 2454 S. Dairy Ashford Rd., Houston, TX 77077.
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