Published in the July 13, 2018 edition
MELROSE — Mrs. Lois (Sharpless) Pfatteicher, 82, a resident of Melrose, formerly of Pittsburgh and East Stroudsburg, Pa., passed away at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge on Saturday, June 30, 2018.
Lois was born on June 22, 1936 in Philadelphia, one of three daughters of the late Thomas and Adelia (Cunningham) Sharpless. She was raised in Philadelphia where she graduated from Overbrook High School, Class of 1954. As a young woman, she volunteered at the Overbrook School for the Blind and later worked as a medical technician at Lankenau Hospital, Bryn Mawr Hospital, and Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. On June 24, 1961, in St. John’s Lutheran Church, Overbrook, she married the Rev. Dr. Philip H. Pfatteicher.
Lois and Philip started a family in Philadelphia before moving to the Bronx for four memorable years where Lois proudly learned to drive a stick shift on the Cross Bronx Expressway. They moved to East Stroudsburg in 1969 where they lived for 30 years raising their four children. Lois would happily talk to anyone. With a deep understanding of human nature and her sense of humor, she always seemed to say the right thing. She was dedicated to her role as wife, mother, grandmother, and friend.
In her free time, Lois enjoyed traveling with her family. In 1980, she and Philip with their four children embarked on a four-month trip around the world. In her usual fashion, she designed the entire trip with detailed plans for every stop along the way. She and Philip logged many miles on every Amtrak route in the country. At the age of 40, Lois hiked the Grand Canyon for two weeks with an outdoors club. She attended conventions of the Lois Club, an organization of women named Lois. She enjoyed caring for her two cats Romulus and Remus, doing a variety of puzzles, and gardening with Philip. Lois loved teaching her children and grandchildren the chemistry of cooking, and learned to text message to keep in touch with them as they moved across the country and traveled the world.
Lois was the beloved wife of Philip Pfatteicher to whom she was married for 57 years; devoted mother of Carl Pfatteicher and his wife Natasha Ivshina of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Carolyn McDermott and her husband Thomas of Melrose; Sarah Pfatteicher and her husband Bob Conlin of Northampton and Madison, Wis.; and Linda Pfatteicher and her husband Greg Wilson of San Francisco, Calif.; dear sister of Marjorie Russo of Philadelphia and the late Paula Acchione and her surviving husband Anthony of Philadelphia; and cherished grandmother of Julia Pfatteicher, Serafima Pfatteicher, Thomas McDermott IV, Kelsey McDermott, Ian Conlin, Franklin Wilson, and Wanda Wilson.
Relatives and friends were invited to a Requiem Mass for Lois at the Church of the Advent, 30 Brimmer St., Boston on Saturday, July 7. In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Lois may be made to Mount Auburn Hospital, c/o the Development Office, 330 Mount Auburn St. Cambridge, MA 02138, or another charity. For online tribute or directions, visit RobinsonFuneralHome.com
