Lois Joann Winar

Lois was united in marriage to Richard M. Winar (formerly Winiarski) on February 7th, 1953 in Oak Park, IL, and they enjoyed 39 wonderful years together, until Richard’s passing on September 6th, 2002.

Lois, Richard, and their three daughters traveled and lived all over the United States, including Carmi, Champagne-Urbana, Highland Park and Arlington Heights, IL; Grand Rapids, Folsom and Auburn Hills, MI; Cincinnati and Columbus, OH; Durango and Boulder, CO; Richmond, VI; Albuquerque, NM; Hamburg, NY; and Valley Forge, PA (just to name a few), accumulating loving friends and adopted family everywhere they went.

During her married years, Lois often worked as a secretary, was an active volunteer, and a devoted member of the Unitarian Universalist Church—most recently, the Paint Creek Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Rochester, MI.

Lois was known for her big, generous heart, open and accepting of all. She was a great listener, and liked nothing better than breaking bread with loved ones and sharing life stories, especially stories with a good punch line. She was a friend of Bill W., and actively shared her experience, strength, and hope with others. Her resilient and optimistic nature was an inspiration to all who knew her.

In her later years, Lois's diminished mobility didn't keep her down, and she could be seen zipping around in her motorized wheelchair with Pixie, her bird, on her shoulder; people-watching in the window of a coffee shop; or going out with friends and family for a long, lazy lunch.

Lois is survived by her family: brother Theodore E. Jensen; daughter Susan Winar-Kendall and her husband, Ron Kendall; grandson Paul Wick and his wife, April Wick; granddaughter Courtney Hedges and her husband, Jeff Hedges; great-grandson William Dean Hedges; daughter Gail Winar and her husband, John Pocalyko; daughter Nancy Winar; and granddaughters Evalyn Jake and Sarah Cracknell. She also leaves behind numerous loving relatives and friends.

A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, September 27, 2014 at 1:30PM with the memorial gathering from 1-4PM at Pixley Funeral Home, 322 W. University Dr, Rochester, MI.

Lois always enjoyed a good story and asks that those attending her Celebration of Life please bring something to share – a remembrance, an anecdote, a poem, or a song. If you can’t attend, please share below.

In lieu of flowers, Lois requested that donations be made to the American Cancer Society.

The family would like to share a short video with visitors: http://youtu.be/UeDjQogkhW4