Obituary of Lois Mathis West Leyden – Lois E. Mathis went to be with the Lord on January 27, 2019 with her family by her side. She was born June 28, 1929 to John (Everett) and Marian Storms Van Wagenen. She attended Stokes Grade School, graduated from Rome Free Academy and attended St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in Utica.
On June 3, 1950 she married Donald O. Mathis, a union that lasted 43 years. Lois began working in the cafeteria at West Leyden School, later transferring to the new Adirondack High School. This position gave her joy as she loved the children and received great pleasure in her remaining years whenever she would run into one of “her kids”.
She also vastly enjoyed visiting with the patrons the many years she helped at Mom’s Diner in West Leyden. She was a Sunday School leader at West Leyden Dutch Reformed Church, served as treasurer of the West Leyden Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and was a member of both the Boonville and Lee Center Senior Citizen organizations. Her greatest joy came with accompanying her sisters Carol and Phyllis on shopping trips and Sunday afternoon outings.
Lois always enjoyed a good picnic with Dale’s chicken barbaque. Sitting at her kitchen table watching the many beautiful birds that would come to enjoy the feast on her deck brought her great pleasure. Lois is survived by one daughter, Janet Farmer, Rome; five sons, Donald E. (Lisa) Mathis, Osceola, David, Dale (Healon), and Kevin, West Leyden, Kenneth (Donna), Bloomfield, NY; granddaughters Jill (Rodney), Julie (Greg), Lanette (Brian), Kaitlin, Leah, Rebecca, Justus, Misty (Andrew), and Aliza; grandsons Dion (Heather), Corey (Mandy), Andrew, Davey, Jason, and Patrick; nineteen great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild; four sisters Elizabeth “Betty” Bennett of Carlisle, PA, Ruth (Bob) Zimmers of Marysville, PA, Phyllis Sauer of Adams Center, NY, Carol Finster of Lee Center; one brother, Howard (JoAnn) VanWagenen; five sisters-in-law, Norma Plopper, Rome, NY, Joyce (Robert) Parkhurst, Cicero, NY, Mary Rita Mathis, West Leyden, Marjory (Robert) Schaller, Rome, NY, Lynda (Duane) Wallace, Lee Center; four brothers-in-law, Doug (Elaine), Kemme, FL, Warren (Eleanor) Mathis and John Mathis, West Leyden, Rodney (Holly) Mathis, Oneida; and god-daughter Tracy Tanner.
She was predeceased by her husband, Donnie; brother Harold E. VanWagenen, sisters-in-law, Virginia Kemme, Marilyn Riegler, Luella VanWagenen; brothers-in-law Frederick Finster, Harry Bennett, James Mathis, and nephews Bobby Zimmers and Dennis Finster. Lois was able to pass peacefully in the comfort of her beloved home thanks to many individuals who came forth in our time of need, and their love and devotion were immeasurable. Special thanks to Kim, Bonnie, Charlene and Mandy, her wonderful granddaughters and sisters who spent nights and days with her, her sons who weren’t afraid to go out of their comfort zones to spend nights and mornings with her, her physician, Dr. Andrea Finocchiaro, who made trips from Oneida for house calls, her nurse Sue, and the “angels” from Hospice and Palliative Care who would show up magically just when we needed them most.
in lieu of flowers please consider memorial contributions to the West Leyden Dutch Reformed Church and the West Leyden Fire Department. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Trainor Funeral Home, 143 Schuyler Street, Boonville, NY. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home Tuesday from 3 to 7 p.m. and Wednesday from 10 to 11 a.m. A spring interement will be in St. Peter & Paul Cemetery, Fish Creek.
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