Shirley Lande

December 8, 1929 - February 13, 2019

Helene Shirley Schwartzberg Lande painted her life in big, bold brushstrokes of color. She lived fully, with a passion for art, theater, symphony, parties, travel and the ultimate loves of her life, her four daughters, Laura, Marla (Keo), Charese and Kim. Her parents, Isabella and Isaac Schwartzberg (I.J.) set her on that path when she was born on December 8, 1929 in Alexandria, Louisiana. Shirley was the center of their world and she adored her parents. She grew up in the small town as the daughter of the owner of Schwartzberg’s department store, surrounded by loving family and friends. It was there that she cultivated her love of art and fashion as she helped her father buy clothes and arrange fashion shows. Shirley was wholly dedicated to her beloved parents, Bella and I.J. throughout their lives, and she appreciated their generous spirits and the encouragement they gave her to pursue her passions. For Bella and I.J., Shirley was their greatest joy and greatest achievement. At age 16, Shirley headed to Louisiana State University to study journalism and write for the college newspaper. After graduating from LSU, she went to the University of Texas in Austin to pursue a graduate degree. There, she met Jack Lande and got married. They soon moved to Ohio for Jack’s career where she gave birth to Laura. A few years later, Marla (Keo) was born in Alexandria. The family later moved to Fort Worth, Texas where Sheri and Kim were born. In Fort Worth, Shirley was involved in the opera and symphony and studied fine art with various teachers. It was in those years that she began her colorful journey as an artist, painting oil portraits of family and friends. Her daughters have memories of posing for hours in boredom as their mother painted them. Those portraits are now beautiful memories of the brushstrokes Shirley painted so beautifully. Shirley loved a party and entertained guests at all sorts of occasions. In 1972, she moved with the family to Birmingham and then to Dallas, where Shirley began a career in advertising, using her skills in creative writing and art. She and Jack divorced in 1974 and Shirley set on a path as an entrepreneur by opening Shirley Advertising. The business took off and she created marketing and public relations campaigns for a portfolio of clients including furniture stores, restaurants, car dealerships, construction firms and equipment manufacturers. As her business took flight, so did her adventurous spirit. She traveled to destinations around the world with curiosity and love of learning about culture and history. Shirley traveled avidly well into her 80s, and just a few years ago, was dancing with her family on a cruise to Alaska. Shirley’s greatest joys were also being with her family at events, bar and bat mitzvahs, weddings, birthday parties and holidays. She reveled in those times where her family was together, surrounding her. It is through her influence that her children, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild will live on with her spirit guiding them, enjoying parties, dancing, eating healthy food and leaving behind their own brushstrokes of color. We will all miss her dearly. Shirley is survived by: Laura and Michael Eisenberg, Marla (Keo) Strull, Charese Lande and John McCreedy and Kim Lande and Scott Henry. Grandchildren: Anna Eisenberg, Emily Eisenberg, Sean Strull, Brandon Strull, Cody Strull, Sophie Henry and Rebecca Henry and great grandchild Brynlee Mae Strull, as well as her longtime partner, Joe Glasser of Hartford, Connecticut. Donations in her honor can be made to Hospice Austin or your favorite arts organization.