Miriam (Pozmantier) Selig

Miriam Pozmantier Selig, our loving and beloved mother, passed away peacefully at home on June 17, 2026 in the company of her family. Miriam Claire was born in Galveston on July 22,1929 to Abraham and Anne Krovetz Pozmantier. She was a true Galvestonian and lived the majority of her life on the island, graduating from Ball High School as salutatorian in 1946. As a teenager she met the love of her life, Oury Selig, through his younger sister. WWII intervened and Oury entered the service. After the war they met again at the University of Texas and married in 1948. They started a family as soon as Miriam graduated and soon returned to Galveston where they enjoyed a large extended family on both sides. Their own family grew until there were four children. As the last one started school, Miriam began her career in education and spent 28 years teaching including 5th grade at Burnett Elementary, 6th grade at San Jacinto Elementary, emotionally disturbed children in UTMB's Graves Unit, and pediatric patients in the UTMB Children's Hospital. She ended her career teaching special education classes at Burnett.
     Despite the demands of a career and a large family, Miriam was committed to community involvement. She gave countless hours to Hadassah, B'nai Brith Women, and the Temple B'nai Israel Sisterhood, serving as president of both Hadassah and the Sisterhood. Miriam and Oury were honored by Israel Bonds in 1997 with the Israel Freedom Award.
     Miriam was also active in the Delta Kappa Gamma education sorority and in the Galveston Art League where she served as president. 
     Our mother always amazed us with her creativity and her quest for life-long learning. From costumes to prom dresses, her sewing machine was always busy. Upon her retirement, she began to exercise her remarkable artistic ability and became skilled in pastels and oils, particularly in portraiture. Miriam participated in Galveston Art League membership and juried shows and had shows at Galveston galleries.
     She took the opportunity to study for and to become a Bat Mitzvah in her early 70's. She became proficient at using computers and, for several years, even had bi-weekly Zooms with her family and texted almost daily with heart emojis. For decades, she always looked forward to her weekly Mahjong games, and she loved watching golf on television and following the players. After moving to Brazos Towers, Miriam enjoyed volunteering in the library and retail store along with serving on resident council committees.
     Miriam met the challenges in her life with resilience and optimism. After 59 years of marriage, she lost Oury in 2007. Just a year and a half later Hurricane Ike took her home of 40 years. She simply gave thanks that no one was hurt, embraced a move to Houston, and began a new chapter in life. She cared deeply for her Jewish faith and made herself part of the Houston Jewish community - joining a congregation, a chapter of Hadassah, and the Jewish Community Center. It was at the latter that she met Adolph Scheiman, with whom she happily spent the next 15 years.
     Miriam was always a gracious and welcoming person, and her glowing light will continue to shine on within the family and friends to whom she gave so much.
     Miriam was predeceased by her parents, in-laws Andrew Lionel and Freda Schreiber Selig, husband Oury Selig, companion Adolph Scheiman, brother Irving Pozmantier, sisters-in-law Sidney Pozmantier and Mitzi Nevelow Levy, brothers-in-law Philip Nevelow and Adam Levy, and nephew Max Nevelow, Sr. She will be forever missed by her adoring children - James Selig, Michael Selig (Michelle), Debra Selig-Rosen (Paul), and Madeline Morey (Robert) along with her nephews and nieces Jeff and Janet Pozmantier, Barry Pozmantier, Laurie Pozmantier, and Eric and Polly Nevelow as well as numerous great nieces and great nephews and their families. Miriam is also survived by her sister-in-law Paula Pozmantier, several bonus grandchildren and great-grandchildren, many cousins throughout the country, as well as numerous friends who were like family.
     The family will receive visitors at 1pm on June 21, 2026, at Congregation B'nai Israel, 3308 Avenue O in Galveston. Funeral services will follow at 2pm with Rabbi Peter Kessler of Congregation B'nai Israel and Rabbi Josh Fixler of Congregation Emanu El officiating. Internment will immediately follow at Congregation B'nai Isael Cemetery at 2802 61st Street.
     Pallbearers will be Jeff Pozmantier, Barry Pozmantier, Eric Nevelow, Paul Rosen, Jeremy Rosen, and Scott Jacobson. Honorary Pallbearers will be Laurie Pozmantier, Janet Pozmantier, Paula Pozmantier, Robert Morey, Michelle Graham, Bill Fink, Roz Fink, Evelyn Wisenberg, and Anita Rothschild.

     The family wishes to thank Drs. Joshua Septimus and Howard Rubin for their expert care of Miriam since her move to Houston as well as Shirley Ragasa, Ruth Chavez, and Mildred Galang of Care Partnership, LLC and the team at Houston Hospice for their loving and compassionate care provided over the last few months. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Congregation B'nai Israel, P.O. Box 8060, Galveston, Texas77553 or Congregation Emanuel, 1500 Sunset Blvd, Houston, Texas 77005.

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