Lois Marie Smith Oelrich, born on June 14, 1926, was reunited with her beloved husband of 33 years, John Albert Oelrich, on December 23, 2017. Born in Fond du Lac, WI she was the daughter of Isabella (Moquin) Smith Becker and Martin Louis Smith. After her marriage to John in 1950, they first lived in NJ, then moved to MA, and ultimately settled in CT. She was a resident of Avon for 41 years, and resided in Simsbury since 2008. She was a loving mother to her five children and their spouses, Jonathan “Jay” Oelrich and his wife, Rochelle, of Easthamptom, MA, Wayne Oelrich and his partner, Denise Carron, of Bloomfield, Cheryl Malerba and her husband, Louis, of Gales Ferry, Brian Oelrich of Simsbury, and Stephanie Wexler and her husband, Erik, of Manhattan Beach, CA. Lois was a loving grandmother to three cherished granddaughters, Deanne and Carli Wallace, and Caitlin Oelrich. She is also survived by her brother Edmond Smith, and his wife, Teresa, of Stoughton, WI; and a sister-in-law, Marie Oelrich, of Belleville, IL, and many nieces and nephews.
She was Class Valedictorian of Notre Dame Academy in Belleville, IL, and advanced her education at Miss Hickey Secretarial Training School in St. Louis, MO, a 9 month program, which in true Lois-form she completed in 4 ½ months. After she married, she began her career as a legal secretary in Cambridge, MA. She then moved to CT and started a family. Once her children were grown, she was introduced to the world of computer programming and re-entered the workforce first at The Predictor, a stock market bulletin newsletter, followed by a career of office and computer management at St. Ann’s Church, and the Avon Volunteer Fire Department.
Lois had a deep appreciation of all the Arts. She was a member of the St. Ann’s Church Choir, and loved playing the piano with the family. She and John were members of a neighborhood gourmet club where she explored her love of food from all over the world. She spent many afternoons with her friends over a game of bridge and was an avid reader of many genres. She was a crossword puzzle enthusiast and was so good at them that she always completed them in pen.
The family would like to thank the special care of those from ComForCare, and Hartford Healthcare at Home. The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday, December 28th from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Vincent Funeral Home, 120 Albany Tpke., Canton, CT, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at The Church of Saint Ann in Avon, CT, at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow in St. Ann’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society (breast cancer survivor) and/or Catholic Charities USA. Please visit Lois’s Book of Memories at, www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online condolences.