Lois Rathmell
Posted By Ballard Sunder Funeral Home On February 12, 2022 @ 12:38 pm In 2022,Obituaries,Uncategorized | 6 Comments
Lois Rathmell, age 84 of Prior Lake, Minnesota, entered eternal life on February 10, 2022.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, February 16, 2022 at 11am, with a gathering starting at 10am, both at St. Michael Catholic Church, 16400 Duluth Ave. SE, Prior Lake. Father Tom Walker will preside. Interment at St. Michael Catholic Cemetery.
Friends may join the mass via live streaming by visiting http://stmichael-pl.org and clicking on the live stream tab.
Lois was born on September 7, 1937 to Salvatore and Angela DeTota in Baltimore, Maryland. Lois grew up in Maryland in the joy of a large, loving Italian family. Throughout her life she cherished the memories of wonderful times ‘down the shore’ at their summer home on the Chesapeake Bay; swimming, eating freshly caught steamed crabs and enjoying homemade delicious Italian food. Growing up, she worked after school behind the counter at her parents’ luncheonette, helping her father to make and serve meals and ice-cream sundaes to the neighborhood grocery store workers. She also spent time working in her mother’s beauty salon. She graduated from Notre Dame Preparatory School in Baltimore where she met her lifelong close friend, Geraldine Lundquist. She went on to graduate from University of Maryland College Park, where she earned a B.A. Degree in Theater and Speech Communication. In the years after college, she worked in Manhattan, NY as an associate to the managing editor of Madamoiselle magazine. Around that time, she took a European cruise, where she met her future husband, Norman Rathmell. They got married and lived for 2 years in France, where Norman was stationed in the Army. Upon returning to the U.S., they moved to Norman’s home state of Colorado, where their first child, Jim, was born. After Norman earned his commercial pilot’s license and was hired by Northwest Airlines, the family settled in Burnsville, MN, where their second child, Lisa, was born. Lois put her heart and soul into raising her family in a loving home for over 20 years. While there, she met longtime friend, Marge Sandrin and another lifelong close friend and sister in Christ, Ann VanVickle. She and Ann were blessed to be a part of the Catholic Charismatic revival; it changed her life—she was born again in the Holy Spirit and stayed close to the Lord and strong in her faith for the rest of her life. When her kids were in high school, she pursued her passion for art and earned a 4-year certification from Atelier Le Sueur, a school of Classical Realism, where she became a master artist. She sold her original oil paintings in galleries across the country. Although she spent most of her adult life in Minnesota, she always held Maryland and her extended family there close to heart. She traveled there frequently over the years to spend time with them. The last 20 years of her life, she lived close to her children and spent many happy years enjoying time with them and her grandchildren, Alyssa, Christina and Matthew. She will be deeply missed and her family will always hold her close in their hearts. She is survived by her children, Jim Rathmell, Lisa (Joe) Edlund, Grandchildren; Alyssa Edlund, Christina Edlund, Matthew (Ariel) Edlund, Great-grandchildren; Melody Edlund and Lyric Edlund; Sister Janice Kotras; nephew, David Kotras and many cousins in the Ciurca family. She is preceded in death by her parents, Salvatore and Angela DeTota.
Offer Condolence for the family of Lois Rathmell
Print Obituary & Condolences Condolences for the family of “Lois Rathmell”
Will always fondly remember Lois from our years in high school She was energetic and talented. She will be missed.
Love and sympathy to her family.
Sheila. Fahey Haskell
On supplicant knee, Lois, I bid the farewell ~♡~ Elaine
It was always a treat when Lois and Norm and my cousins Jim and Lisa would come to Baltimore for a visit. Since she grew up in this city she often remenisced about local interests and food, namely steamed blue crabs. She would be torn between Minn. and Md. but staying near her immediate family always won out. She and I shared a love for history, as did her mom, Angela. Lois will be remembered as being very kind and having many abilities.
Sincerest condolences to the family, we loved Lois, her mom, sister, and her extended family. Just wish I could have visited her. She was a great artist, and we have artwork she did for me and will be on my wall till I’m gone. God bless Lois, and her family.
I’m so sorry to hear of Lois’ death and wish to express my sympathy to her family.
We became friends when we were both attending Atelier LeSueur. We used to go plein air painting together and we visited each others at our homes. She was a friend and fellow artist and I miss her. Unfortunately, as happened, she moved away. I did see her when I was painting outdoors a few years ago and we intended to get together but unfortunately, it didn’t happen.
Click here to print.
Article printed from Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation: https://www.ballardsunderfuneral.com
URL to article: https://www.ballardsunderfuneral.com/lois-rathmell/
Click here to print.
Copyright © 2015 Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation. All rights reserved.
I remember back in the day, I had an unspoken competition with Lois to see who could buy Alyssa and Christina the better Christmas presents. I’d buy the remote control dog whose leg would be broken by the second day, and she’d get them the cute little remote control puppies that they actually loved and played with throughout the years. I finally gave up on that little game and learned something important.
When it came to loving and being there for her family, children and grandchildren, Lois had no competition. Lois put her whole heart and all of her passion into everything she cared about. That’s why it’s not surprising that she was successful not only in her career but also as an artist and even a golfer!
I always enjoyed visiting with Lois. She had a genuine interest in me and what I was up to and she made for great company when it came to laughing and joking around.
We are all going to miss you Lois and congratulations on a life well lived. When it comes to that, you have no competition.