Lois M. SMITH

Lois M. SMITH, 80, of Allegany, NY, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 22, 2021 in Absolut Care of Allegany, NY.

Born February 8, 1941, in Brockway, PA, she was the daughter of William John and Margaret Orlosky Lankard.  A 1959 graduate of Brockway High School, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree from St. Bonaventure University.  Lois started her career as a home economist for the Elk County Extension Office in Ridgway, PA.  She traveled quite a bit for this job and enjoyed being a judge for food and sewing projects at the county fairs.  Lois taught Home Economics for Ridgway Public School and Elk County Christian in St. Marys, PA.  In 1986, Lois and her four girls adventurously packed up everything and moved to Allegany, NY.  Lois was employed by the Allegany Central School District as a Home Economics teacher.  Students in her class remember making gingerbread houses at Christmastime, putting on traditional Thanksgiving dinners, and sewing “tooth fairy pillows” for the elementary school children.  Lois was an exceptional seamstress.  She enjoyed sewing and quilting which was a talent she inherited from her Aunt Jo.  Family and relatives recall walking through the house and there was always a new sewing project in the works.  She mended clothes for family and friends, made her daughters’ wedding dresses, and even fixed a beloved stuffed animal named “Happy” after an unfortunate accident with the family dog.  In the 1980’s, Lois took up cake decorating that she learned from a good friend.  She made graduation cakes and wedding cakes but best of all were the birthday cakes her daughters remember that made the day extra special.  Lois also enjoyed gardening, telling jokes, and spending time with her family.  From childhood, she always had a cat. She loved her cats, Boots and Tabby. Lois was a parishioner of St. Bonaventure in Allegany.  She built her life upon a firm foundation of her Catholic faith.  She lived her life with determination and unwavering conviction.

Surviving are her four daughters, Tina (Shawn) Combs of Fort Smith, AR, Rachel (Gregory) Gunzburger of Wellsville, Nannette (Robert) Smith-Fickel of Ridgeway, Ontario, and Noel (Gustavo) Calvo of Fort Smith, AR;  three beloved grandchildren, Hannah, Levi, and Lily;  a sister, Marjorie Baughman of Dubois, PA;  an aunt, Jean Orlosky of Brockway;  nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by two brothers, Gerald Lankard and Jack Lankard.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 AM, Friday, April 30, 2021 in St. Bonaventure Church, 95 E. Main St., Allegany, NY.  Burial will be in St. Tobias Cemetery, Brockway.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Cattaraugus County SPCA, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Arrangements are under the direction of Olney-Foust Funeral Homes & Cremation, Crowell Chapel, Wellsville, NY.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.wellsvillefuneralhome.com.