Louisa Maud Lillie "Lois" DeGraff
March 6, 2016Share using:
HOUGHTON – Louisa Maud Lillie “Lois” DeGraff, 87, long-time resident of Hancock who recently moved to Arbor Green in Houghton, passed away Sunday, March 6, 2016 at UP Health System – Portage Hospital in Hancock with her sons and pastor at her side.
Lois was born August 2, 1928 in Ripley, daughter of Ardell John and Louise Maude (Rule) Congdon. She attended school in Hancock and graduated from Hancock High School in 1946.
Afterwards, she worked at Michigan Bell Telephone as a switchboard operator until her marriage to Richard R. DeGraff on January 5, 1952 at the First Methodist Church in Hancock. They moved away from the area and eventually settled in Arlington Heights, Illinois, where Lois focused on family and raising two sons. Following her divorce in 1976, she moved back to Hancock and worked at the Onigaming Supper Club, Peninsula Travel Agency, Janus Home Health Care, and the Best Western Motel–Copper Crown. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Hancock.
Lois learned frugality from her parents while growing up during the Great Depression and World War II, and she applied this quality throughout her life. She was a loving and dedicated mother, grandmother, and good friend who gave as much or more than she received. Having uncles and cousins who fought in World War II, Lois was a committed supporter of various veteran’s groups. She preferred to focus her charity on local agencies where it could benefit the community. Lois would quickly strike up conversations with strangers, almost always finding a connection, and she was the person to be around to have an open discussion about anything.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents, Ardell and Maude, and her ex-husband, Richard.
She is survived by sons, James (Isabel) of Houston, Texas and Steven of Houghton; three grandchildren, Anthony, Lisa, and Susan, and two step-grandchildren, Cristina and Diego, all of Houston, Texas; sister, Evelyn (Daniel) Folk of Peoria, Illinois; and many cousins in the area and elsewhere.
There will be no visitation. A simple service will be held in May prior to burial with her parents at Forest Hill Cemetery in Houghton. Details will be announced later by the O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home of Hancock.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly, 527 Hancock St., Hancock, MI 49930.
To leave online condolences, please go to www.oneilldennisfh.com.