Lois Anne Siegel

Lois Anne Siegel, 86, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 31st, 2024, with her family by her side. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin, teacher, and friend to many. She lived a full and adventurous life, traveling the world, exploring New York City, and sharing her wit and enthusiasm.

Lois was born on April 21, 1938, in Paterson, NJ, to Richard and Margaret Graham (née Dugan). She was an only child but grew up close to her many cousins from the Dugan and Graham families. She attended St. Elizabeth's College, where she majored in English, made lifelong friendships, and met her future husband, Edward Siegel. They married in 1961, eventually settling in Mountainside, NJ.

Lois and Ed had three children, Edward Jr, Laurie and Paul, and two grandchildren, Aidan and Alicia. Lois was a devoted and engaging mother and grandmother, always coming up with fun activities and leading exciting excursions. She worked as a special educational needs teacher for many years in Plainfield, NJ, touching the lives of countless students with her patience, kindness, and creativity. She had a talent for arts and crafts and was always producing impressive gifts and making the best Halloween costumes for herself and her children.

Though her life was not without its challenges, including the loss of her husband Ed in 1986 and her daughter Laurie in 2021, she persevered with courage and grace, never losing her zest for life. She kept busy with various jobs including her own airport shuttle service called “Travel with Lois”. In 1990, Lois moved to Bay Head, NJ, where she enjoyed living by the Shore and making new friends.

Ever stimulated by culture, Lois was always attracted to the bright lights and distractions of the Big Apple. In 2011, she left the tranquility of the Jersey Shore behind and moved to the Upper East Side where she formed yet another group of new friends. She amassed a notable collection of Playbills during her years of theater attendance and always enjoyed live entertainment and music. Lois volunteered at Lincoln Center and the New York Public Library, sharing with visitors her knowledge and passion for arts and literature.

An avid traveler, there are not many corners of the world that Lois hasn’t visited. She also knew New York like the back of her hand and could easily have written an Insider’s Guide to the city. Her memory for restaurants, interesting sights, and historical places was unparalleled.

Most of all, Lois was a loyal and fun-loving friend, who made lasting connections wherever she went. The life of many a party, Lois had a sharp sense of humor. As one of her friends recalls, “She was a piece of work!”

Lois’s final wish for those she has left behind is that on her birthday each year you do one of the following:

• Make a random act of kindness.

• Make someone laugh.

• Give away something special of yours to anyone.

• Do something silly that you’ve never done before.

A memorial service will be held for Lois on Saturday, July 27th at 11am at her local parish church of St. Francis de Sales at 135 East 96th Street, New York, NY 10128, and we will be interring Lois’s ashes at Fairview Cemetery, 1100 E Broad St, Westfield, NJ 07090 on Friday, August 2nd at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, we would suggest a donation to St. Francis de Sales https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6792e6ac-5d42-11ee-90fc-1260ab546d11, or to God’s Love We Deliver, a free meal delivery service that was very helpful for Lois over the past year when she was unable to cook for herself: click DONATE NOW on their webpage https://www.glwd.org/.

Thank you.