Lois Colageo

Born in Haverhill, MA on April 3, 1931, the only child to Charles Wills and Marjorie (Wood) Wills. She was the beloved wife of the late Ernest Colageo.

Lois grew up in Ayers Village with her grandparents, James and Grace Wood, on a chicken farm, through the depression years. In 1948, while in high school, Lois also attended the Academy Modern modeling school. In 1949, Lois graduated high school and attended the Chandler Secretarial School for Women of which she finished in 1950. Lois then moved to Boston and for the next two years, she worked as a model and as a secretary for the Lombard & Sons Company.

In 1950, while living in Boston, she met her husband to be, Ernest Colageo. He was discharged from the Marine Corp. in 1951, and on August 3, 1952, Lois & Ernie married. They lived in Hyde Park for the next two years where they started a family, which eventually grew to three sons and a daughter.

In 1955, they moved to Randolph and then settled in Dedham in 1960 at 125 Colwell Drive, where they built a house and made a home for the rest of their lives. Summers were spent at their cottage in South Yarmouth, Cape Cod, where they made happy memories with family and friends.

Lois was an amazing cook and could whip up a supper on a moment’s notice with whatever was in the fridge. Colwell Drive was where everyone wanted to be on Friday nights for her homemade pizza or her pesto pasta Sunday dinners. She hosted so many celebrations but on Christmas Eve there was standing room only. She had many interests including volunteering at the Dedham Community House, the Westwood Senior Center and delivering Meals on Wheels. She worked in a bowling alley and at tennis clubs for many years and enjoyed both sports and then did bookkeeping for a salon. She read thousands of books and beat everyone at Scrabble. She fed and enjoyed the wildlife in her yard and rescued many stray cats that became part of the family. Lois had so many friends and really cherished her McDonald’s crew in later years but especially loved spending time with her family.

Lois is survived by her children, Louis Colageo and wife Roberta of Palm Coast, FL, James Colageo of Harwich, MA, David Colageo and wife Darlene of Cape Coral, FL and Lorna Welch and husband Brian of Oak Bluffs, MA; by her grandchildren, Brooke and husband Lawrence, Danielle and husband Brien, Lindsay, Chelsea and Brendan; by her great grandchildren, Nekesa, Makai, Grace, Lucas, and Benjamin. She is also survived by her only cousin, Roland Soucie, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held through Gillooly Funeral Home at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Lois’ name to Second Chance Animal Rescue of Martha's Vineyard, 25 June Ave., Vineyard Haven, MA 02568

https://www.secondchanceanimalrescuemv.org/