Lois Greiffendorf

Obituary for Lois Greiffendorf

Lois Gianine Greiffendorf, 53, died peacefully surrounded by family on February 16, 2010 following a yearlong battle with brain cancer. The daughter of Florence and Lawrence Gimbel, she was born in Melrose Park, IL on November 8, 1956, two weeks before her father’s untimely death of ALS. Her mother married widower Jerry Rouse, joining forever siblings Don Gimbel, Laura Maddox, Mary Lou Brunke (deceased), Kathie McGlaughlin, and Barb Alleruzzo. After attending Catholic elementary and high school, Lois married Tom Greiffendorf in 1975, and the two lived in Grand Junction, Michigan, raising three daughters, Hilary (now Sister Mary Agnes, O.P.), Rachel, and Lauren. While creating a loving home for her husband and children, Lois developed her talents, selling artwork at local shows, participating in productions of the Kalamazoo Ballet Company, running the Two Sisters School of Dance in Bangor, MI with her sister Mary Lou, and serving as Assistant Director of Development at Hackett Catholic Central High School in Kalamazoo, MI. During two periods of life, she managed two businesses with her husband Tom: a movie rental business, Movie Mania, and a transportation company, Eagle Wings Logistics, Inc. Baptized a Roman Catholic, Lois’ devotion to her faith grew throughout life, increasing her love for others. She obtained a degree in Family Life Education from Spring Arbor College in 2001, committing herself increasingly to charitable works, especially the pro-life movement and the apostolate of Catholic education. For the past nine years, she served as a Religion teacher and Respect Life Club moderator at Hackett Catholic Central High School along with her husband Tom. Lois was known for her joyful spirit, devotion to faith and family, and passion for truth and justice. She bore her final illness with peace and grace, realizing that these were perhaps the days of her greatest teaching and time in which she most effectively witnessed to the dignity of human life in all its stages.

She is survived by her husband, children, siblings, son-in-law Michael, and three grandchildren, Gianna, Abigail, and Brigid Harris. She will be greatly missed by her family, many students, and friends.

Visitation will be held at Filbrandt Family Funeral Home in South Haven, Michigan on Friday, February 19 from 4-6 p.m. and 7-8:30 p.m., with prayers at 5:45 and 8. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Basil’s Catholic Church in South Haven at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 20 with Rev. Father Robert Flickinger officiating. Burial will take place at Grand Junction Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia (801 Dominican Drive, Nashville, TN 37228) or Van Buren County Right to Life (c/o Larry McPhillips, 63280 Ridge Ave, Lawrence, MI 49064). Kindly share your thoughts and memories on the family’s online guest book at www.FilbrandtFFH.com.

The family is being helped by the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home of South Haven 637-0333.