Lois Schisler Zelina

Lois Schisler Zelina, age 91 passed away on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Beloved wife of the late Richard S. Zelina; devoted mother of Karen Elizabeth Zelina, Martin Liam Zelina and his wife Sandy, and Joyce Zelina McMahon and her husband Mike; loving grandmother of Bridget, Lauren, Liam, Kevin, Ryan, and Cara.

She was a graduate of Seton High School and of Notre Dame of Maryland University, and was always very proud of joining “the short list of females with a college degree” at that time. She worked as a teacher for several years after college, dating casually but keeping an eye out for an engineer from the Midwest, who she felt would “make a good husband.” She married Dick Zelina (Mech.E., from Ohio) in 1958; they were happily married for over 50 years, until his death in 2009.

She and Dick moved to Fallston in 1970, and she remained there for 50 years in the same house, including ten years after his death.

Lois was dedicated to her community, volunteering in many ways to serve Harford County, especially helping to bring a library to Fallston. She was a lifelong voracious reader and was not intimidated by a lengthy volume.

Lois was an animal lover, and especially loved her miniature apricot poodle, Daisy. Lois and Dick took many road trips to Ocean City, and Daisy knew to expect a trip to McDonald’s drive through, and a few French fries, along the way. They also enjoyed trips overseas, seeing Ireland, Germany, Austria, Norway, and Czechoslovakia.

More than anything else, my mom had a gift for friendship with other women, and was lucky to retain many of them into her later years. Although it was hard to lose friends she had known since girlhood, she never lost her enthusiasm for meeting new people, and especially new women friends. She moved into Brightview Avondell shortly before the Covid shut-down. There she met and maintained many happy friendships as she engaged in Wii Bowling, Wordle, Chair Fitness, and Bingo.

She will be missed.

A Celebration of Life is being planned, to be held at Avondell.

Please contact her daughter Joyce at [email protected] with any questions