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Lois Julian McConnell, 89, died at home surrounded by her family on Saturday September 4, 2004 after a brief illness. She had been a resident of Albuquerque since 1937. She was born in Bokchito, OK and went to high school in Arizona. A single mother who raised five children, she worked as a seamstress in the local laundry and dry cleaning industry. She was an accomplished tailor, an absolute master of textile crafts, including knitting, crocheting, and quilting. Her quilts are treasures of unequalled craft and design. She also made serious forays into watercolors, oil painting and ceramics. There is no one in the family that does not have a fond memory of Grandma Lois making or mending something for them. She enjoyed reading and was grateful for the modest acts of Christian charity she was able to contribute from her small income. She is survived by her son, Dwight McConnell and his wife, Edna of Alaska; daughter, Polly Dunklin of California; daughter, Judy Pay of Oregon; and son, Mickey McConnell and his wife, Cynthia of Albuquerque. Lois was preceded in death by her daughter, Patsy Liesse and son-in-law, Jimmy Liesse; and her grandchildren, Todd McConnell and Robin McConnell. Her surviving grandchildren, Tony and Janet Liesse, Desiree and Mike Mazany, Mark and Viola Liesse, Andria Liesse and Alan Gurevitch, Charlie Liesse and Juanita Nash-Oktollik, Austin McConnell, Cory and Peggy Crockett, Skip Crockett, Stephanie and Rubin Bacamante, Bobby and Nada McConnell, Rhea Baker, Rickey McConnell, Tonja McConnell, Heather Pay, Miquela Duran-McConnell and Phil Varela, Simona and Richard McConnell-Cole and Heidi and John VanZanten, will all miss their Grandma Lois. Her 27 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren, relatives, in-laws, and her friends and neighbors will also mourn this sad loss and cherish many loving memories of her long and satisfying life. She was a member of the Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church and received Extreme Unction in full confidence of the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Lois prayed a Rosary every day for the love of her family. Her remains have been cremated. A funeral mass was celebrated at Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church on Friday September 10, 2004. In accordance with her wishes, her ashes will be interred of in the wilds of New Mexico. We all want to give our heart-felt gratitude to Cynthia, her daughter-in-law who over the past eight years has been her best friend, confidant, chauffer, care-giver, pharmacist, nurse and tireless advocate and defender. Lois' life was immeasurably made more abundant by Cynthia's tireless generosity and tender kindness. We also recognize and appreciate the love and kindness shown to Grandma Lois by family members near and far. She loved each and every one. May God bless us and have mercy on us all.
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