Lola Mae Krissel

Salem – Lola (Jenkins) Krissel, 96, of Salem, OR, departed this world on May 14, 2026.

Lola was born April 26, 1930 in Utica, NY, and spent most of her life in Conklin, NY, before moving to Oregon in 2007.

During her school years Lola found pleasure tap-dancing, acting, playing the marimba, skating at the roller rink, and spending summer days absorbed in endless games of Monopoly. In high school she learned typing, bookkeeping, and office skills, and earned pocket money working at a soda fountain. Upon graduating high school, she quickly landed a job as a bookkeeper to help support her single mother.

A few days after her eighteenth birthday Lola married Oscar Krissel, who had just completed his war-time service with the US Navy. Together they raised their children Paul Krissel (Salem, OR), Connie Vanderburg (Tijeras, NM), Shari Gilford (Salem, OR), and special son Anh Ly (Binghamton, NY).

Like many who came of age during the Great Depression, Lola knew how to stretch every dollar. In addition to being a homemaker, she added to the family income with part-time secretarial work, caring for foster babies, and pedaling her bicycle through the neighborhood to sell Avon door-to-door.

Lola loved gardening, and during the long winters in upstate New York she would browse seed catalogs and read Rodale’s Organic Gardening magazine. Even before the spring snow melted, she would start her seeds in the home-made cold frame behind the house, and on tables and benches in the glass-enclosed sun porch. She did not let anything go to waste, and filled her cold cellar and extra freezer with tomato sauce, pickled beets, green beans, rhubarb, and blueberries.

Lola was a committed member of Conklin Avenue First Baptist Church (Binghamton, NY) for almost sixty years, and a member of Calvary Baptist Church (Salem, OR) for eighteen years.

She headed up the prayer ministry at both churches, and on Sunday mornings she was always on the lookout for new people she could help feel welcome and comfortable. She even chose to wear casual clothes so that visitors would not feel intimidated if they were not wearing their Sunday best.

Lola’s faith deepened in mid-life, when her relationship with God became more real and tangible. For decades Lola rose early to spend unhurried time in prayer and Bible reading. She found great satisfaction in mentoring many people in the Christian faith.

Lola had taken voice lessons as a young girl, and singing in the church choir gave her great joy. All her life, she sang and hummed throughout each day. “Singing makes me happy,” and she said it helped her stay positive in difficult times. One of her favorite songs was “His Eye is on the Sparrow.” It’s a perfect picture of her joyful attitude despite life’s hardships.

Lola celebrated her 96th birthday on April 26, 2026. She had lived independently almost to the end of her life, keeping herself healthy with daily walks in her neighborhood plus an exercise routine at home. Her mind stayed active with Sudoku, Boggle, word games, and jigsaw puzzles. She relished the quiet privacy of her small apartment, where she read, listened to audio books, checked the daily weather report, made simple home-cooked meals, and tenderly cared for her house plants and small vegetable garden.

Lola never sought recognition or accolades. She cultivated her relationships with the quiet grace of dependability and kindness. In her final months, even while suffering with back pain from a fall, she maintained her positive attitude, gratitude toward everyone, and hope for the future. She rarely complained, took delight in simple things, smiled daily, and continued to sing in her sweet, gentle voice.

Her wish was that we would carry on her legacy of devotion to God, and love and care for others.