Lois E. Lehr Ulman

Lois E. Ulman (nee Lehr), age 87; Beloved wife of the late Chester J. Ulman; Loving mother of Gail (Leslie) Lechowicz and Eileen (Richard) Stonys; Cherished grandmother of Melissa (Mike) Cacciabondo, the late Alan Lechowicz, Barry Lechowicz, Craig Lechowicz, Bethany Crispin, Christina (Christopher) Ward and Haley Stonys; Adoring great grandmother of 8; Dear sister of the late Elaine (the late Chester) Zarr and Harriet (the late Bill) Niggemyer; Fond aunt of many nieces and nephews. Visitation Monday 3 to 9 pm at the Andrew J. McGann & Son Funeral Home, 10727 S. Pulaski Rd. Lying in state Tuesday 10:00 am at Trinity Lutheran Church, 11500 German Church Road, Burr Ridge, until time of service 11:00 am; Interment Bethania Cemetery.

In today's world often a woman's worth is measured on how successful she is/was in her career. If that is the case, Mom was one very successful CEO of the Ulman household. Ir was decided that Dad would bring home the paycheck and Mom would be a stay at home Mom. And that was her career.

When they were blessed with my arrival and then Eileen's they struggled like any other young family. What a rude awakening it must have been for her, a German, Norwegian and lets not forget the Pennsylvania Dutch young woman who was born into a financially privileged family. I never heard her complain and now looking back she did one heck of a job. We had three meals a day prepared for us, always came home to an immaculate house and she made sure we were properly groomed and dressed. However she also had some idiosyncrasies. To list a few: Christmas's were crazy. Early on Dad would buy a tree from the lot and it was never the right height. Of course it would need to be cut which meant making a mess and always an argument would ensue. Then came the decorating with tinsel, I mean 1 piece of tinsel at a time, had to be just right. When the aluminum trees came out only she could do the ornaments, they had to be placed just perfect! Spring cleaning at the Ulman residence was also a fiasco. if Mom saw streaks on the walls Dad had just washed, she would want them re-washed. Fingerprints on the walls, OH-OH! Even my kids and nieces to this day recall Grandma correcting them when thy touched the walls. When Mom got older we would laugh with her about some of her crazy ways. Oh, and her arthritic finger. I can't forget that. When she wanted your attention she pointed that crooked pointer finger at you. She would get so mad at us when we joked with her about he finger.

So many fond memories. Getting ready for Easter Sunday, going to Archer Avenue Big Store to shop for our new dresses, walking to Archer with her and stopping at the ice cream shop for her ice cream soda and our chocolate shakes, going to the park and Kiddy Land as a family, sitting outside on those hot humid summer nights with neighbors, sitting on the side of her bed watching her get ready and putting on her make-up to go, letting me practice finger waves in her hair for my cosmetology license exam. She loved to dance and we loved watching her and Dad jitterbug or dance the polka. She also was not a bad bowler, which was her girl's night out. I also loved watching the joy on her face when she would hold her new grandchild or great-grandchild . Even towards the end she still let us put the little ones on her lap and just watching her look down at them would melt my heart. There are so many more remembrances to share but no time and some we'd rather keep in our hearts.

Mom was strong. I have commented to Eileen that I didn't recall seeing my mother cry often. What you would see was her chin quiver. Our heartbreaks were her heartbreaks. However, when we were crying maybe she did not want to add to our pain...The last time I saw her really cry was when Dad had his last surgery on his carotids and there was some risk due to the fact he had gone into anaphylactic shock on a previous surgery. She told us how much she had loved him and didn't want anything to happen to him. They were devoted to each other. She hid his mental failings from us for a while. Dad was probably driving longer than he should have been but she was the navigator and he was her eyes. They always told us that they did not want to go into a nursing home and I am so happy that with the help of a lovely caregiver, Lili, we were able to abide by their wish. Today we are comforted in out grief knowing that they now are together again.

Over the past 2-3 years it has been very hard to watch out Mom, Grandma and GiGi get weaker and weaker and lose the ability to communicate. For those of you who knew Mom in her younger years, she loved to talk especially on the phone. When I would answer the phone and find out it was Mom I knew that I would miss my TV shows, the house wouldn't get picked up or...you get the idea. About 3 weeks ago I had a dream. Dad and Mom were both in it and Mom looked absolutely, amazingly beautiful and Dad the same of course. They were going to renew their wedding vows. But what astonished me the most was that she could talk. It has been such a long time that we have been able to understand her. What I wouldn't have given to be able to have had just one more conversation with her before she passed, just one.

Thank you Pastor Bob for being with Mom and our family last Friday, anointing her with the oil and giving her a final blessing. It is very hard to watch someone take their final breath but I wouldn't have had it any other way. Eileen and I both had the chance to tell Mom that we would be OK and that it was time to join Dad. Earlier that morning her eyes had become glazed, a sign of passing, but right before she died her eyes followed us, she tried to raise her hand and the from the woman who never cried, she had tears falling from the corner of her eyes.

Mom, may you rest in peace. Give Dad and Alan a kiss from us. We will love you and keep you in our hearts forever...

Gail and Eileen