LOIS JEAN KOENIG (nee Bright), January 27, 1934 to June 13, 2021. Beloved daughter of Vera May Schuman (deceased) and Albert Bright (deceased); Beloved wife of William Joseph Koenig (deceased); Loving mother of Jeanette Jean (deceased), Eric William (deceased), Albert Joseph (Daneen) and Vera Jean Bretz; Cherished Grandmother of Amanda Bretz, Kyle, Ryan, Paige, James Koenig; Dear sister of Clifford (deceased), Alberta (deceased), Vera (deceased), Marcy, and Melita; Nana to her four-legged grand dog Sophie Jean. Mass of Christian Burial 9:30 am Saturday June 19 at St. Gregory the Great Church, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. Interment All Souls Cemetery. The family will receive friends at THE DiCICCO AND SONS FUNERAL HOME 5975 MAYFIELD RD. MAYFIELD HTS.,(at Lander Rd.) FRIDAY 3 TO 5 AND 6:30 TO 8:30 PM. Online condolences and guest registry www.diciccoandsonsfh.com
Lois Jean Koenig (Bright) was born Saturday, January 27, 1934 at her family home in Cleveland, Ohio.
Lois was the 5th of 6 children and sister to Clifford, Alberta, Vera, Marcy, and Melita. She was born to Vera May Bright (Schuman), age 24, and Albert Bright, age 30. Vera, was a homemaker, who ran the house while Albert worked as a yard clerk on the railroad. Lois was the grand daughter of Robert Bright, Melita James, Rose Knapp, and Charles Schuman.
As a child, Lois loved to read, sew, and play with her cat, Bobo and dog, Little Girl. When Lois turned 13 years old, her mother wrote in her birthday card, “Smile: Though the path of life gets weary mile by mile, try to meet your trouble cheerily with a smile. It does not take much energy all the while. to raise the corners of your mouth with a smile”. Lois followed this great advice all her life and had a beautiful smile that could light up any room along with a contagious laugh.
She attended Rawlings Jr. High School where she received a perfect attendance award. Lois then went on to Jane Addams Vocational High School where she majored in Power Machine, which is a very large sewing machine. Lois was a member of the National Honor Society and on the Merit Roll. She was a Homeroom Attendance Officer and Treasurer of the Student Council, which is hard to believe since she could never balance her own check book!
Lois designed and made all of her own clothes, which she modeled in school fashion shows. She graduated from high school in 1953. Prior to commencement, their class had a visit from a fortune teller who saw a vision of Lois working as a great dog catcher. She may not have become that dog catcher, but she did catch the love of all of her own dogs, Chi Chi, Little Bear, Nugen, Bella, and Sophie over the years.
Lois’s very first job was working part time at Dan Dee Pretzel & Potato Chip Company. She would fill and hand staple the bags of potato chips together on an assembly line. Lois went on to work for the Fanny Farmers Candy Shop. She loved the smell and taste of chocolate. After finishing high school, Lois worked full time at Stanley File where she made women’s dresses. When WWII began, she started making Army uniforms for servicemen. Lois left the factory and moved on to become the best wife, mother, and Nana that anyone could ever ask for.
Lois met Bill Koenig through her sister, Marcy, in 1954. Marcy’s husband Carl was best friends with Bill. When Bill came to pick up Lois for their first date, he talked so long with her parents that they were late for the movie. When Lois got home that night, her mom told her to marry him since he was such a good talker and because they would always have meat on the table, since Bill was a butcher. High standards back then! Lois and Bill dated for two years and became engaged. While they were engaged, they saved up their money so they would have enough food and drink for their wedding reception and the day after. Lois and Bill were married on Saturday, May 10, 1958 at Holy Trinity Church in Cleveland, Ohio. Talk about a party! It literally lasted for two days!
Bill was teaching Lois how to drive when they found out they were pregnant. They went on to have four children. June 12, 1961, their first girl, named Jeanette Jean Koenig, was born. Unfortunately, Jeanette was born with health issues and only survived for a few hours. Next, came their second child, Eric William Koenig, on May 10, 1962. Their third child, Albert Joseph Koenig, joined the family on April 24, 1964. Finally, the fourth, and the baby of the family, Vera Jean Koenig, arrived February 12, 1966.
Lois loved being a mom, it was her favorite job in life. When the kids were old enough to go to school, she decided to volunteer at the school library. She shared her love for books with children, who gained an interest in reading too, which was so fulfilling for her. When her last two children were teenagers, Lois decided to go back to work part time at Regina High School. She was so proud that the money she made cleaning at Regina paid for her daughter’s wedding gown.
Lois’s beloved mother, Vera, passed away on December 18, 1963. Her father, Albert, followed on January 1, 1987. Sadly, her oldest son, Eric William passed away on June 2, 2005. After 57 years of marriage, to the love of her life, Billy passed away on October 20, 2015. They are now all reunited.
Some of Lois’s favorite hobbies include playing video games (top level of Donkey Kong), reading books, building puzzles, and playing slot machines at the casino. She always recommended the Dolly Parton and the Bier Haus, or as she would call them, the Beer and Boobs slot machines! Lois loved to cook, bake, clean, plant flowers, work in her vegetable garden, send greeting cards, watching birds, playing solitaire, doing crafts, drink coffee, and eat anything with chocolate. She also loved the sound of wind chimes, and to look at pretty sun catchers.
Lois’s favorite holiday was Christmas, especially the day after, because she loved to purchase holiday decorations half price. She loved shopping with her daughter and getting a great deal. Lois loved listening to music. Her favorite concerts were going to see Meatloaf, where she was escorted out by security during the encore (a funny story-ask Vera about this one), John Cougar Mellencamp concert, where she purchased a babushka (as we call it a bandanna), and any Elvis impersonator, including those she saw in Vegas. She only flew once in her life and that was for her daughter’s best friend’s wedding in Las Vegas. Her best Elvis memory was being able to tour Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee.
Lois’s favorite color was blue, lucky number was 6, and she loved roses. Her favorite song was Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers, favorite drink was a screwdriver (that was the only time she drank OJ). Her favorite movie was “Dirty Dancing” (she especially loved to watch Patrick Swayze dance without his shirt on), and her favorite restaurant was “Eat at Joes”. Lois’s favorite foods included Sloppy Joes, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, breaded cauliflower, burnt mac & cheese, anything sweet, and iced tea. Lois would always say that if you burped after a meal, it was a compliment to the chef.
Lois’s favorite show was Judge Judy. She would set her schedule around that show. Even dinner would have to wait because she was in court with her favorite judge.
Lois was a volunteer for the American Heart Association. This is when she had a chance to really get to know her neighbors by collecting for this awesome charity. She was a member of the Red Hats Society and the Heinen’s Retirees Club and was a devoted member of St. Gregory the Great Church for 51 years.
Lois was blessed with 5 grandchildren, Amanda Bretz, Kyle, Ryan, Paige, and Jimmy Koenig. Her favorite past time was attending Amanda’s dance recitals and watching Kyle and Ryan play ball. Nana also loved spending time with her grand dog, which she called her four-legged door bell, Sophie Jean.
Lois taught us to treat everyone the way you would want to be treated, to find the positive in every situation, and to make the most of every day.
Lois passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her loved ones on Sunday, June 13, 2021. She will be greatly missed but never forgotten.
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