Joyce "Kit" Blumenstein, 78, died in hospice care the morning of September 7, 2026 with her devoted daughter-in-law by her side. Kit was a librarian, known for building private collections for Texas Governors, legislators and oilmen. She and her husband Steve were known in the antiquarian book world for expertise in Texana; books written about the history, culture and art of Texas. They were celebrated historians of the Texas Rangers and were frequent honored guests to the Annual Texas Ranger Reunion held at the Hall of Fame in Waco, Texas. She was the private librarian for two-time Texas Governor Bill Clements.

Kit was also a fifth-grade schoolteacher who loved to teach “To Kill a Mockingbird" every year to her class. The culmination of which was a screening of the film starring Gregory Peck complete with popcorn, candy and soda.

Kit relocated to Connecticut after COVID to be closer to her grandchildren. She quickly found a loving group of peers at The Emanuel Synagogue and enjoyed being part of the kitchen crew there, helping to prepare meals for Shabbat and other occasions. After her illness, it was the time with those friends that was the greatest loss. Kit’s pride was her grandchildren. As ill as she was Kit was able to find the strength to participate in her eldest grandson’s Bar Mitzvah. Her hope had been to be there for all of her grandchildren, but we find comfort that her funeral will be in front of the bimah were each will become Bnai ‘mitzvah and they will be able to stand where she herself celebrated Aliyah’s.

Kit was preceded in death by her daughter Amber Kathleen Blumenstein; both of her husband's, Robert Blumenstein, and Dr. Stephen William Schuster IV Ph.D.; her father John Jefferson Renfroe, mother Charlotte Renfroe and Charlotte's partner Elwood Schubert; as well as her sister Lynn Renfroe.

She is survived by her son Glenn Blumenstein and his wife Tiffany, their three children Levi, Elijah, and Aliyah, as well as her lifelong friend Jan ----- and her sons, whom Kit considered her nephews and loved like they were her own: Jordan and his three children, and Jesse and his six children.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30pm on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at The Emanuel Synagogue, 160 Mohegan Dr., West Hartford, CT 06117. The funeral service livestream can be viewed at https://control.resi.io/webplayer/video.html?id=52b9a9ab-8ee4-4872-a15d-c733214e19c1. Interment at the historic Oakwood Cemetery in Ft. Worth, Texas next to her husband and daughter will be private and at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Kit's memory can be made to The Rabbi Philip and Ruth Lazowski Religious School at the Emanuel Synagogue, 160 Mohegan Drive, West Hartford, CT 06117, because Kit believed very much in a lifetime of learning and in the gift of Torah. https://theemanuelsynagogue.shulcloud.com/payment.php To leave a memory or message of condolence, please visit www.blumensteinfuneralhome.com