Lois Sarneski, (1931 - 2021) - ForeverMissed.com Online Memorials

Celebrating a life well lived.

This memorial website was created in memory of Lois Marie Landberg Sarneski.

Lois was born to Marie and Edward Landberg on June 24th, 1931. An only child, she grew up in Elmhurst Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. After graduating from Columbia University with her Occupational Therapy degree, she moved to San Francisco where she met her future husband, Ernest Sarneski. They married in April 1961 and moved to Lucas Valley, where they raised their two daughters, Christa and Bettina. As the girls got older, Lois returned to college, graduating with a master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling in 1981. Undaunted by kidney failure, Lois was blessed to receive a kidney transplant in 1985 which enabled her to travel the world from Europe to Russia and as far as India and China. In 2000 she moved to San Diego and eventually landed a volunteer job at San Diego Hospice, supporting families and sewing memory bears. Throughout her life and travels, Lois built enduring friendships, created numerous works of art and profoundly touched the lives of many. Her legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone who knew her.

Lois is predeceased by her husband, Ernest Sarneski and survived by her daughters, Christa La Farlette and Bettina Sawaya. She also has 4 grandchildren; Mitchell Fox, Ben Fox, Isabelle La Farlette and Nicolas La Farlette. Lois slipped from this world in the wee hours of February 16, 2021. Her vivacious spark will be sorely missed.

Please join me in celebrating Lois's life by sharing memories and photos under the "Stories" tab.

Tributes

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January 20, 2023

Dear Christa, Bettina, and families,
I am writing on behalf of my mom, Nancy Coder Shehi. Mom isn't using computers anymore, so I googled your mom to see if she was still at the same address in El Cajon and sadly found this moving tribute site. Both mom and I want to send our deep condolences on the loss of your mom. Nancy was on the team that opened the Sensory Integration Treatment Center, and she greatly respected your mom's expertise. I remember that your mom was always so kind and fun. May you find ways to honor her life as you grieve. Warmly, Nancy and Susanna

July 27, 2021

I knew Lois from the time I was a little boy when she came to visit our family in Sweden. She was proud to have Swedish parents. As an adult I visited Lois several times, both in Lucas Valley and San Diego. She was very caring and selfless and I remember her memory bears. They were touching. She was a very important part of my family and I had hoped for one more visit but it was not to be. She will be sadly missed but I am grateful to have had the honour of knowing her.

June 14, 2021

Thinking of Lois brings back fond memories of our neighborhood in Lucas Valley, CA. We were good friends and enjoyed those fun carefree days with young children. I was in awe of her creative skills and my girls were recipients of dolls and doll clothes. I will be forever grateful to her when my 7 month old son fell ill and she advised immediate medical treatment. He mysteriously contracted spinal meningitis and due to her help, he recovered without any lasting effects. Her medical perception was key to that. Thank you, Lois.
After she moved to San Diego, I only saw her once. We sat in the sun and had ice cream cones and talked fondly of those early years. She was always happy, enthusiastic, helpful and kind. I was fortunate enough to be her friend in return. Sondy Adams-Walczak

June 10, 2021

I had known Lois for over 20 years. I still vividly remember how interesting and inspiring our first encounter was. During the course of our conversation, Lois asked me if I had read Thomas Friedman’s book, “From Beirut to Jerusalem “. Having been born and raised in Lebanon, I felt an embarrassment for not having read the book but , at the same time, I was filled with admiration for Lois great intellect. Over the years , I have come to know Lois as an enlightened person who was well read and well traveled. She was a critical thinker who brought mental bandwidth as well as immense delight to every discourse. Her kindness, her open-mindedness and, above all, her humanity left an indelible mark on every member of my family. Rita, Carmelina, Anthony and I sorely miss her.

June 8, 2021

I have very fond memories of my first trip on an airplane to San Francisco at the age of 7 where I met Lois for the first time. I remember her helping Ronnie and I clean out the mussels that we got from Fisherman’s Wharf so that we could add them to our shell collection when we got back home to San Diego. As I got older, I valued our many conversations at family get-togethers and enjoyed living vicariously through the photo albums she loved to show of her travels around the world. Rosa and I will miss her and keep her in our hearts.

June 8, 2021

We loved Lois, knew her for about 20 years, We will always carry her in our hearts. May God treasure her into his family. Love to the family. P.S Lois was a great lady, and we’ll always love her! ❤️❤️Metta

June 2, 2021

Lois was a dear friend of my mother, Mary Lou Moore. I was sole caregiver to Mary Lou 2010-2011 and Lois would come over to spell me for a couple hours a week so I could get away. Lois taught me to have patience and perspective in dealing with an aged parent, saying to me, --It may seem to go on and on, but it (end of life struggles with a parent) lasts a very short while, so value every minute with your mother--. So I did. Lois' cheer and love helped buoy me up. Such a lovely woman.

June 1, 2021

My mother was Lois' first cousin. She remembered Lois as a "difficult" little girl who grew into the nicest person ever. I knew and loved Lois and she was my favorite relative. When I was a little girl she made a clown for me called "Benny". Benny has been with me ever since and he is sitting in my bedroom now.

May 30, 2021

It’s my honor to share some valuable memories of all the wonderful moments my family and I spent with our beloved Lois.

Lois was considered as a close member of our family. Therefore, we were profoundly grateful when she was present in mostly all our gatherings, adding always a unique touch to our celebrations, and mainly to our conversations.

Lois was constantly sharing her vast and thorough knowledge with everyone, not only with the adults, but also with the youngest members of the family. Her great awareness of various subjects and topics made the dialogue with her extremely interesting, informational, and certainly unforgettable. We all agreed to say that her knowledge was encyclopedic!

Furthermore, Lois was loved by every single person she met. She was so considerate, so caring, and so beautiful that she will always live in everyone’s heart. Although Lois is missed a lot, she will be remembered forever.

Tina sent us multiple pictures of Lois with us, but I am attaching a photo that was taken in November 2017 in our last Thanksgiving celebration to say, “Thank you Dearest Lois for all the precious moments we spent together. We love you deeply! May your Blessed Soul Rest in Peace.”

Love,

Nada Sawaya and Family

May 27, 2021

From the day I met Lois, when beginning my first job as a Physical Therapist, in 1963, until our final get together in 2019 in Santee, I could count on sharing some great laughs. Lois was everything that Bettina has so beautifully captured in the beautiful picture book, her lovely writing, and the gorgeous rendition of "Amazing Grace" here!
What a wonderful idea to create this fabulous website for all of us to express a memory or thought about Lois. Lois was a dear friend for 58 years! What I will remember most vividly about her is how hilarious she was--she left me with a smile after every meeting and I will smile each time I think of her.
Love, Jean

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Recent Tributes

January 20, 2023

July 27, 2021

June 14, 2021

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Gallery

Sondy Adams-Walczak, Lois and Susan Carney at wedding. June 6, 1987

Finished product/table in our living room in Heikendorf/Germany

Lois with my mom, Carmen, In Easter, March 2008

a photo of a photo of Lois, Ernie,Jean; Carolyn, Vince, Lois,Jean-- Jean/ Peter's party 1996

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Her Life

May 22, 2021

An exciting life begins. The only child of Marie and Edward Landberg, Lois was born on June 24, 1931. At 6 weeks old, she's ready for prime-time and photos. Look out world, here she comes!

May 22, 2021

Even in her terrible twos, Lois's eternal optimism and zest for life was on full display. Her favorite childhood photo, she loved to point out the vintage car in the background.

May 22, 2021

When Lois was two and a half, she swallowed a hairpin. One of those old-fashioned types that hair-pin turns are named after. She had to have abdominal surgery to get it out. Being a squirmy two year old, of course the stitches came loose. The doctor made a house call and she had to lie down on the kitchen table while he fixed it. If you look closely, you can see the abdominal binder under her swimsuit. The photo was taken at Lake Michigan beach in 1934.

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Sondy Adams-Walczak's Story

June 22, 2021

Petkos/Germany

June 15, 2021

Our family, the Petkos/Hildebrands from Germany have known the Sarneski family for a long time, dating back to an initial contact between Ernest and my father, Hermann Hildebrand.
Especially in the late 1970's and 1980's we shared several reciprocal visits of our families at each others homes in Germany and California. Our son Marc spent several weeks one summer with Lois and Ernest thankfully teaching him to drive and he was able to get his US driving license. I remember them being not too impressed with his initial (German?) driving style but especially Lois encountered it with grace.
Another fond memory of Lois' altruistic attitude towards others is documented in the attached photos of the redwood lumberyard/table. She did not hesitate to select the unfinished redwood slab at a bay area lumberyard for us and arrange it for shipping to Germany where my husband, Pet, built the unique living room table that is still the center piece of our living room in Heikendorf (photo).
We will certainly carry Lois' memory forward and our thoughts go out to Bettina and Christa and their families.
Haide Petko with Wolfram, Marc and Colin

June 8, 2021

I met Lois in 2001 when I moved to San Diego to be with my husband while he was in the Marine Corps. We lived in the same apartment complex and she was our dear neighbor. I transferred to San Diego with my job at Delta Airlines. Shortly after 911 our ticket office closed down and I was left unsure what to do with my career. I graduated from college with a degree in psychology in 2000. I spent time talking to Lois about my decision to get my masters in rehabilitation counseling at San Diego State University. She became a mentor to me throughout my time in graduate school. When we moved back home to Northern Kentucky we kept in touch only through Christmas cards. We loved hearing about her adventures. A few years ago we stopped hearing back from her. I was so sad to receive notice just this past week of her passing. We thought of her often and she will always hold a special place in my heart. Rest peacefully Lois! I look forward to meeting you again someday in heaven.

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