Jolene Dan Saizow passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, August 20, 2017. She was born in 1928 in Tulsa, OK. In her 89 years, she was a loving daughter, wife, mother and grandmother; a successful professional; a community volunteer; and a world traveler.
As a young single woman, Jolene ventured to New York City to work and see the sights. After a year, she returned to Tulsa and married Robert Saizow in 1953. She and Robert had two children, Ron and Hildy Saizow. When her children started elementary school, Jolene returned to the working world, first as a cosmetic distributor/sales person and later as a successful real estate agent.
Jolene raised two successful children – Ron who is an academic physician and associate dean; and Hildy who is a national consultant in violence prevention.
In their time together, Jolene and Robert celebrated 63 years of marriage, the weddings of their son, Ron and Mary Jo Saizow, and of their daughter, Hildy Saizow and Richard Ettenson. In addition, they enjoyed their four beautiful grandchildren – Abby and Jeff Saizow and Sam and Brady Ettenson.
Jolene adored and was adored by a large group of uncles, aunts, nephews and nieces, known as the Dan Clan from Memphis, TN. Her dear cousin Shirley Levin, also of Tulsa, was her best friend throughout her life. Their daughters, Hildy and Debbie Levin Jardot, continued this tradition of cousins and best friends.
Jolene was involved in the Tulsa community serving as President of Temple Israel Sisterhood and a volunteer docent at the Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art. She was a petite, beautiful woman who stayed physically active. From water skiing to water aerobics to walking Lafortune Park with her friends, she stayed healthy and slim. She loved Shirley Temple movies, sitting with her grandbabies and baby grandniece, and firmly speaking her mind. She was a good writer and authored her children's Bar and Bat Mitzvah speeches.
She traveled extensively – on business incentive trips with her husband, cruises with extended family, beach resorts with friends and to Italy, France, Iceland and Australia with her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren.
Jolene was a strong woman with a fierce independent streak. She will be missed!
Donations in her honor may be made to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, at bradycampaign.org/ways-to-give.
Funeral service will be Thursday, August 24th, 10:00 a.m., at Temple Israel. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Park Cemetery.
Fitzgerald Ivy Chapel, 918-585-1151