Shirley Rodell

Born in Denver, Colorado, November 19th, 1927, and raised in Albany, Geor-gia, Sheryl Rodell (nee McCormick) passed away February 20, 2011. She is sur-vived by her loving son, Leonard Rodell, his wife, Debbie, and grandchildren, Sara and Grant. Sheryl lived a life of striking independence, graduating high school at the early age of 16, moving on her own to Washington DC where she worked as a secretary in the Pentagon and got her political science degree in the evening from George Washington University. While attending Rosh Hashana services, she met and fell in love with her husband, Fred Rodell, who predeceased her six years ago virtually to the day. They were married 55 years beginning just 3 months after they met. During their first couple years of marriage, they lived in Germany and traveled extensively through-out Europe. In 1952, Sheryl researched cities with great growth potential and selected Houston as the place to move and start a family. Sheryl and Fred continued to lead a life of travel and adventure while raising Leonard. They started businesses together and Sheryl had many successful professional pur-suits. She obtained a Masters in Psychology and was an educator and counse-lor for over 20 years in the Spring Branch and Houston school districts. They retired and moved to Lakeway in 1996. Upon retirement, Sheryl and Fred traveled often, their passports brimming with stamps from every continent. Sheryl had a special love for venturing to new frontiers and lived a truly worldly life. All who knew her will warmly remember her independence, qui-et confidence, timeless elegance, kind eyes and easy smile. Though her friends and family are deeply saddened by her passing, they remember her life with smiles, stories and wonderment. Her strength of spirit lives on. The family wishes to thank Dr. Jim Chudleigh and the wonderful staff of The Plaza at Querencia who cared so lovingly for her during the last few months of her life. Those wishing to make a memorial gesture can do so by sending do-nations to Temple Beth Shalom Building Fund at 7300 Hart Lane, Austin, TX 78731 or online at http://www.bethshalomaustin.org/aboutus/donate/