The artist:

Lois Marilyn Ostapczuk

Feb. 10^th, 1948 – March 2^nd, 2023

Lois was born in Newark, New Jersey to Robert and Doris Koch, the fifth of six children.  She grew up in Union with her three brothers and two sisters.  Lois went on to graduate from Union High School in 1966 afterwards earning a 1970 BA in General Elementary Education at Kean University.  Later in life she earned her MS in Elementary Education at SUNY New Paltz.

Lois married her husband, Ed, in May of 1970 after which they relocated to the Mid-Hudson Valley of New York state.  While he initially worked at IBM, Lois taught second grade in the Marlboro School District.  In 1973 they relocated to Shokan, residing there since, where Lois soon gave birth to the first of four children, putting her teaching career on hold while raising the family.

 As their children grew through their teen years Lois re-entered the teaching profession, directing and teaching the Overlook Preschool for a short period plus substitute teaching before joining the Onteora School District as a first-grade teacher.  In 2008 she retired from teaching rekindling friendships while becoming an active community volunteer and cultivating various hobbies.  She enjoyed quilting, hiking, volunteerism, and landscape painting.  Her artwork was often donated to various community fundraising events. 

While teaching Lois received the NYS Jenkins Award becoming an honorary life-time PTA member and was also nominated to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.  As a volunteer, in her younger years she was active in local PTA’s and with the Town of Olive’s Recreation Committee, for which she was also recognized.  In later years she was active with Vision 2000 and volunteered/coordinated the Daily Bread Soup Kitchen at Christ’s Lutheran Church, where she also served on the Church Council and taught Sunday school.

Other than her family, friends, and helping others, Lois life’s passion was landscape painting.  She was an active member of the Olive Senior Art Group.  While Lois was mostly self-taught, she also received help from group members, as well as enjoyed several classes with local artists.  Much of her art is shown within the blog below.

Lois was survived by her husband of fifty-three years and all four of their children including ten grandchildren.  She was also survived by her three brothers and two sisters/their families as well as two sisters-in-law’s/their families including seventeen nieces and nephews, and several great nieces and nephews in all.

In November of 2021 Lois was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer.  Though the odds were stacked against her from the beginning, she fought with all her efforts and grace.  Her cheerful and kind presence will be greatly missed, while all who knew Lois are grateful for our time with her.  The family is forever beholden to the caring and dedicated personnel at Memorial Sloan Kettering and Hudson Valley Hospice.  

My bride: