RENÉE TRANSOU

12/03/1938 - 01/05/2024

Renée Transou, 85, passed away peacefully in her home on Friday, the 5th of January. Renée was born on the 3rd of December 1938 in Erie, Pennsylvania to John Wallace and Fernande Mercier Shenk.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 23 years, Thomas B. Transou.

She is survived by her 5 children Stephanie and her husband Jay Hudgins, Bo and his wife Lisa, Tad and his wife Lisa, Adam and his wife Alison and Chip and his wife Alysia; her 15 grandchildren Caddie Wright and her husband Darrell, Berkley Hudgins, Reid Hudgins and his wife Rebekah, Travis and Steven Transou, Ian Lanthier, Spencer Bowser, Reece, Grace and Thomas Transou, Cate and Tim Transou, Katie, Mackenzie and Jack Transou; her 2 great-grandchildren Addison and Margaret Wright; and her best friend, Jan Zajicek.

At the age of 10, Renée and her parents moved from Erie, PA to New Orleans, LA. Renée attended the prestigious Metairie Park Country Day School and received her diploma in June of 1957. She was accepted and attended Agnes Scott College in Atlanta where she met Thomas Transou. After transferring to Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and earning her bachelor’s degree in 1961, she moved to Houston and began a relationship with Thomas Transou and married him on September 30th, 1961.

Renée lived in Houston from 1961-1992, raised her 5 children, and earned a master’s degree in education from Houston Baptist University in 1992 while teaching full time. After a lengthy tenure at Valley Oaks Elementary, Renée started the next chapter of her life with a move to Austin and a new job at Doss Elementary. During her 15 years at Doss, one of her favorite things was that she was able to watch 3 of her grandchildren (Caddie, Berkley and Reid) matriculate there. Many afternoons were spent in “Gram’s” room at Doss Elementary.

After her retirement in 2007, Renée traveled extensively, almost as a necessity to life. She and Jan hit all corners of the globe, including Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, America and all points in between. Time between trips was spent planning the next. Renée had an insatiable appetite to see the world and immerse in other cultures to better understand all of the world around us.

Renée requested that any donations be made in her name to:

United Nations World Food Program (www.wfp.org)

Austin Humane Society (www.austinhumanesociety. org)