" SIS "
LOIS JEANETTE (FIELDS) GOLEMBEWSKI
MAY 7, 1928    - MAY 13, 2024
It is simultaneously impossible and optimistic to write such a brief synopsis of a mother's life who has always been a steadfast presence in your life, lived all of 96 years and yet at the same time still feels like she has left you too soon. So here is a glimpse into the life of our mother Lois "Sis". Unfortunately, she was not a world traveler, (who can be with 7 hungry, rowdy children to feed). She preferred to keep her family close to home so she could keep an approving eye on their behavior.

Any first impressions we hear from people who have had the pleasure to meet our mom usually fall into the category of spirited, feisty or even strongly opinionated. Yes, those are all definitely accurate descriptions. She had a wicked strong opinion on matters and people, and would let you know precisely what she thought real quick like. And those opinions could rarely e swayed by man, (daughters) or beast.

Mom loved her family immensely, loved being a mother and grandmother best of all. She taught us the necessity of being together as a family and keeping each other close and connected.

Make no mistake about it though, mom was one of the world's worst photographers (evident in countless family photos of half head shots, or her finger in the picture shots). But she also happened to be (in our opinion) one of the world's best and legendary pie bakers, apple, black raspberry, pumpkin, cherry, lemon meringue... (more on that). She grew up during the depression, so she knew how to scrimp and save things, lots of things. " Never waste anything", "save it for another use later" (and I do mean literally forever).

Sis worked many years as a seamstress in various sewing factories in the Lebanon area (when such things existed), and raising her family. She was born in Lebanon, her first home was located in Coleman's Park. Our family home is located not too far from there on top of Sandhill Road.

She loved to gamble occasionally on bus trips with her sisters. She'd save her quarters for such occasions in a large red plastic "piggy" bank with beady little green eyes. (confession's  from a few of her children will agree that we knew exactly where to find this pig and how to extract said quarters with a skilled butter knife application.  Hey, in our defense we were taught to be independently skilled workers.

Mom loved having all her grandchildren playing with wild abandon in her front yard. Seeing them smiling and laughing always put a great big ol' kool aid smile on her face.

She  loved listening and dancing to the local bands in the area who played at hometown festivals. I think we inherited our love of music and dancing from both mom and dad. She supplemented her dancing with time out for devouring a delicious funnel cake dusted with plenty of powdered sugar.

She had a great fondness for those famous William Penn hotdogs with everything on them of course, and a big cold glass of Coke to help her have a good burp. Mom was a good burper! It was usually produced with gusto quite loudly and the "excuse me" portion was sometimes absent or altogether forgotten. A good burp was seen as good for what ails you. What can we say, mom was a forward ​thinking sophisticated gal.    Mom also greatly enjoyed sitting on her front porch admiring the birds, squirrels and bunnies that frequented her yard every day, enjoying the peace and quiet.

Another great love of hers was camping with us at one of the many Pa state parks we would travel to during the summer months. Playing games and roasting marshmallows. Not a competitive game player by nature, however she had been known to play cards with    her siblings and friends.  But her all time favorite game was Scrabble. Make no mistake, mom did not tolerate cheaters or peeking for words in the dictionary for help. (I never did that of course).

Throughout the years our families have gathered for countless homemade meals     for birthdays and holiday celebrations at our family home, hand built by our father on top of Sandhill. Right next door lived our closest neighbors and friends (another notorious rowdy bunch) the O'Donnell clan. An open invitation existed for anyone to stop at grandma's house (no formalities here). It was always understood that if it was Sunday you knew where to be for picnics, swimming, playing, games, horsing around, laying in the shade, chasing kids or just shootin the breeze on the front porch at mom's. All those  delicious meals were lovingly prepared in over abundance. However, the legendary "word famous" pies baked by mom were something to behold.  Ooey, gooey juices oozing out of fruit pies baked into a super light flaky crust. (We've got that recipe baby !)  Watching it lightly brown in the oven and smelling the intoxicating aromas just made your mouth water in anticipation, it was heavenly torture knowing full well that you still had to wait another hour or two until it cooled enough to cut into because mom didn't allow early cutting. Never could convince mom she was any kind of special cook though. (She always attributed her cooking and baking skills to Mrs. Sholly) But we were the beneficiaries of many delicious family recipes.

Sis was the wife to the late " Kye" Charles Joseph Golembewski, retired Bethlehem Steel worker and former boatswain's mate in the U.S. Navy WWII.  She was born to the late Charles and Katherine (Shadel)  Fields. Mom herself came from a large family of 7 brothers and sisters. Roberta E. Stevens, Elliot C. Fields, Allen L Fields, Marian G. Wentling, Nancy L. Shultz, Margaret A. Mann and William L. Fields.

She is survived by her continuing legacy of 7 beautiful children. Sheran Ann Heagy, Charles Craig Golembewski, Linda Lee Golembewski, Bonita Jean Dry, Marie Eva Harter, Alison Kay Siegfried, and Angela Marie Mione. Those families have grown to include 13 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren who greatly miss her familiar presence and mourn her departure from our lives. We will carry you in our hearts forever mom and treasure all of our shared memories and lessons that you have imparted to us from this day forward.

In loving memory of our mother Lois. She may have outlived most of her acquaintances and siblings (only because that woman was strong and stubborn). All good things mind you.  But we hope that those of us who remain who were lucky enough to meet her and be called friends and family will remember her lovingly. May your light always sparkle and shine and your spirit soar with the angels high above us.

Love always, your family