Lois Moran Evangelisti
May 18, 1929 - August 16, 2021
Lois Moran Evangelisti passed away peacefully on August 16, 2021. She was born in San Francisco on May 18, 1929, to Louis A. Moran (a prominent figure in the San Francisco Health Administration, and administrator of Laguna Honda Hospital) and Theresa Bernegg Moran. Lois attended St. Emydius Grammar School and Star of the Sea Academy in San Francisco where she participated in theater, and from which she graduated with honors in 1947. After high school, she attended Payne Business College and went on to have a fulfilling career, working for Crown Zellerbach Paper Company, Puget Sound Energy in Seattle, Reynolds Aluminum, Western Employers Insurance Company and Zurich Insurance Company.
In 1950, following a USF football game at Kezar Stadium, Lois met the love of her life, John Evangelisti, Jr., who later became a Major in the US Army Reserves and a State Auditor for the State of California. They were married at St. Emydius Church on June 19, 1954. Lois loved joining John’s large Italian family which included John’s parents and grandparents, John Evangelisti, Sr., Rena Viotti Evangelisti Suacci, and Carlo (Charlie) Ghiorzo, as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins. John and Lois had three children -- John III, Mark and Thomas. Sadly, after a courageous three-year battle with leukemia, John passed away on February 1, 1965, leaving Lois behind to raise their three young boys alone. She was so proud of the men her boys became, each one following in their father’s footsteps, earning college degrees, having fulfilling careers and military service. In 1988, Lois retired to Roseville, CA where she became heavily involved in several organizations including St. Rose Church Parish. She was the President of the Catholic Ladies Relief Society, the Recording Secretary for the Italian Catholic Federation, and the Recording Secretary for The Sons of Italy. Lois received the 1999 Member of the Year for outstanding service to the Roseville Lodge 1413, Sons of Italy.
Lois also traveled extensively, enjoying sights on the East Coast, the UK, Ireland, Mexico, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and a cruise down the Danube River. She cherished visiting her extended family in Switzerland and learning languages everywhere she traveled.
In 2014, after having watched her three oldest grandchildren grow up and graduate high school, she moved to Denver, Colorado to be closer to her youngest grandchild. She loved all four fiercely and they will miss her deeply.
Lois is survived by her three children, John, Mark (Katy) and Thomas (Gabriela); her four adoring grandchildren, Sean, Brian, Megan and Andrew; her many nieces and nephews, including Paul Moran, Elisse Ahern and Steven Moran; as well as Stephen, Michael, David and Ed Stilwell and Jean Peccei; beloved friends Brenda Carpenter and Clarkson Blunt; and, many extended family and friends. She is predeceased by her husband, John Jr., her parents, Louis and Theresa Moran; her brother, Paul Moran and brother/sisterin-law, Edward and Doris Stilwell.
Though we are sad to say farewell, we are comforted in knowing that she is now reunited with her beloved John who has been waiting for her in heaven for a very long time. She never stopped loving him and they are probably dancing a jitterbug right now.
The vigil will be held at Duggan’s Serra Mortuary, 500 Westlake Ave., Daly City, CA. on Sunday, August 29th. from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 6:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be held on Monday, August 30th, at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Ignatius Church, 650 Parker Ave., San Francisco, CA. The burial will take place on Tuesday, August 31st at 1:00 p.m. at Golden Gate National Cemetery, 1300 Sneath Ln., San Bruno, CA.
In lieu of flowers, you are welcome to make a donation to Catholic Charities or a charity of your choosing.