AVETTE MARIAM LANDAU STENZLER COVITT

Most importantly, everyone who knew Avette said she was the kindest person ever, including her care givers, who vied for the opportunity to be with her until her last breath.

Born October 20, 1929, in Abilene, TX, nine days before the Great Crash. Living her early childhood in the Great Depression, Mom was frugal her entire life. She passed away peacefully at her home in Fort Worth on May 24, 2024.

Her parents, Nathan and Bessie Landau, Nathan was a traditional peddler who focused mostly on apparel and shoes. They moved from Abilene to San Saba for a few years and finally to San Antonio where Avette graduated from Thomas Jefferson High.  After a short stint at the University of Texas in Austin, she met her future husband, David Stenzler, whom she married in March of 1950. 

Avette and David had two children, Van Stenzler and Karen Delavan (of blessed memory). They began married life in Grand Prairie where they opened a general store that also sold ladies’ dresses. With the help of David’s father, Max Stenzler, they opened Grand Prairie Dry Goods. Their merchant lives took them from Grand Prairie to Dallas , to El Paso, to Albuquerque, to Tallahassee, and finally to Fort Worth in 1960

Avette and David, opened several different apparel stores in Fort Worth including, David’s House of Fashion, Pizzazzz, Fashion Fair and finally Petites Limited from which she retired at age 72. 

After David’s death in 1996, Avette met Ned Covitt and they got married a few years later. They enjoyed life and traveled together until Ned passed away in 2011 at age 102.

Avette was a sixty plus year member of Beth El Congregation in Fort Worth.

Avette and David had four grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Avette was preceded in death by parents, Nathan and Bessie Landau, husband of 46 years, David Stenzler, husband, Ned Covitt, sisters, Selma Weiner and Mildred Pearlman, daughter, Karen Delavan, great grandchildren, Isaac (Izzy) David Stenzler and Claire Anna Delavan.

She is survived by Van Stenzler (son) and Marilyn (daughter-in law), Tom Delavan (son-in-law), grandchildren:  Adam Delavan (Kate), Gary Delavan (Cynthia), Zachary Stenzler (Nina) and Sara Stenzler, great grandchildren:  Anton and Jayden Delavan, Spencer and Archer Delavan and Zoey and Sasha Stenzler, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A Service at the Grave will be held at 10:30 am Monday, June 3, in the Beth-El Section of Greenwood Memorial Park.  A Memorial Service to follow at 11:45 am in the Chapel at Beth-El Congregation, 4900 Briarhaven Road, with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Beth-El Congregation, Fort Worth or your favorite charity.