Nikki Katz (Goode) died peacefully on Wednesday December 21, 2022 surrounded by local family. Nikki was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on January 4, 1939, daughter of the late Harry and Pauline (Edman) Goode.
Nikki’s story is inspirational in that she never sat still. A teacher before marriage and children, she took the opportunity in her 30s to be on the Mahopac school board, get a master’s in social work, and work for—then manage—a service for women in abusive relationships. For her work creating a fundraiser to save the school’s extracurricular budget one year, she was honored as Mahopac’s person of the year. At the age of 43, she pivoted to be a full-time law student, was on law review, and was among the top of her class. She retired when it was time to spend more time with her grandchildren and could be found taking her granddaughters on shopping sprees and to get their nails done, spectating sporting events, or building Thomas the tank engine trains.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Pauline and Harry Goode, and her husband, Fred Katz.
She is survived by her twin sister, Ruth Davis (Goode) and brother-in-law, Jerry Davis; her three children, Alissa Whiteman (Chuck), Jeff Katz (Helene), and Mike Katz (Linda); and her 12 grandchildren, Jordan, Danny, Justin, Noah, Trevor, Damon, Sarah, Hannah, Matthew, Michael, Christopher, and Danielle.
A graveside service will be held Monday, December 26 at 1 p.m., at Ahavath Sholom Cemetery on Blue Hill Road in Great Barrington. This will be followed by Shivah at the home of Jeff and Helene Katz, 17 Autumn Chase Dr., Hopewell Junction, N.Y. from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. Additional Shivah will be at the home of Ruth and Jerry Davis, 895 Iris Drive, North Bellmore, N.Y. on December 27 and 28 from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. both days.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider donating to the Lewy Body Dementia Association or Hebrew Senior Life, the facility that took amazing care of Nikki for the last few years. Birches-Roy Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. Condolences may be made through the funeral home’s website.
