Lois Ann Mulcahey

Lois Ann Mulcahey passed away on February 12th, at the age of 98. She died at home surrounded by her daughters, Colleen Hobson, Joanne Lynch-Bachbauer,Cathleen Lynch, Marybeth Lynch, and son-in-law Kuno Bachbauer.Lois Ann is also survived by her son James Lynch, granddaughter Elaine, great-granddaughter Elise, son-in-law Lloyd Southam and many nieces and nephews.She is preceded in death by her grandson Matthew Lynch and her two brothers, John Frances and Richard Thomas Mulcahey.

Lois Ann was born during a snowstorm in Niagara Falls, N.Y. to Alice G. Ryan and John Frances Mulcahey, Sr.Her early years were spent in New Bedford Massachusetts where her family experienced the horrific hurricane of 1938.Her stories were vivid and recounted the fear that it was the end of the world. Since her father worked for Immigration and Naturalization Services, her family frequently relocated to several states in the northeast. Her family did live in Melrose Ohio for a short time during WW ll where her mother was the air raid warden and Lois Ann’s first job was rolling bandages for the Red Cross. The family moved to Upper Darby, PA where she graduated from Haverford High School before attending West Chester Teacher’s College. Lois Ann earned a BS in Biology and met her future husband James Lynch. After college she moved to Washington, DC and married James Lynch in June 1949 (divorced 1988). She taught at Holton Arms before leaving teaching to raise her 5 children. The Lynch family moved to Falls Church where Lois Ann raised her children and lived for over 70 years.

Lois Ann always worked outside the home, most notably with the Bell Phone Company and Fairfax County Juvenile Court. She also provided childcare to several families in the area. She loved the families and children she met and fostered lasting connections and friendships. Lois Ann was an aesthete - she was an avid reader and pianist. She was creative, artistic, and sought natural beauty. She was an artist at heart. She worked in watercolors, oils and paper

mache. She not only sold her works but placed in many local art shows. For the last fifty years Lois Ann expressed her love of beauty by nurturing and developing her garden. Initially the garden was filled with vegetables and fruits, but over the years the entire backyard became a magical place filled with flowers. From early spring to late fall, from sunrise to sunset, you would find Lois Ann in her garden. It was there she found solace and spiritual grounding.

Lois Ann was also an active member of the High Hopes and the Falls Church Garden Clubs. It was her participation in these clubs that not only promoted her interest in gardening, but were she found kindred souls and lifelong friendships.

Everyone who met Lois Ann was touched by her radiant, delightful, loving presence. Lois Ann’s family will miss her dearly, but know that her kindness, creativity, heart, wisdom, humor and love will always be with them. We will hold her in our hearts and cherish her forever.

Details of her celebration of life in late Spring/early Summer will be forth coming.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers a donation be made to one of the following organizations in Lois Ann’s honor: National Wildlife federation-nwf.org or Habitat for Humanity- habitat.org.