Lois Ruth Howard

Lois Ruth Howard, born on July 22, 1929, in Berlin, New Hampshire, was a radiant spirit whose life was marked by love, service, and a profound joy in simple pleasures. Lois, an accomplished teacher, a gifted pianist, a celebrated cook, and a cherished friend to many, passed away on August 8, 2023. In the words of Helen Keller, "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." For all who knew her, Lois was indeed one of those beautiful things. Lois spent her early years in Topsfield & Danvers, Massachusetts, before moving to Maine in 1982 where she graduated from Lewiston High School in the class of 1947 and then from the University of Maine in 1951, and finally settling in Portland in 2006. She devoted her life to education, teaching at the St. Paul’s Day School in Peabody, MA, renowned for their music program, for over a decade. After the birth of her son, she transitioned to teaching kindergarten and later embraced the role of a full-time homemaker. Beyond her working life, Lois was known for her exceptional talent in the kitchen, she was a wonderful cook with a great knowledge of good food and how to prepare it, specifically her mastery of Lebanese and Italian cuisines, for which she received several awards. She entertained friends with taste and style and her guests frequently asked for her recipes after a memorable dinner. During her life she made many special friendships with people who loved and appreciated her. She was also a brilliant pianist, Lois loved music all her life and spent many happy hours studying and playing the piano. Music was an important part of her life, she was a lover of dance, always ready to share her passion for music and movement with those around her. Lois also had a life-long love of learning and in later years took adult courses in art history and writing at Bowdoin College and the University of Maine. She maintained and practiced a strong religious faith and her enduring spiritual life upheld her unfailingly. Lois's beautiful spirit lives on through her beloved son, Mark Howard. She is preceded in death by her parents, Mitchell and Anna Haddad, and her husband, Jerry Howard. As Lois's family and friends, we carry her memory in our hearts, cherishing the love and warmth she brought into our lives. In the words of Maya Angelou, "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Lois made us all feel cherished, and for that, we will forever remember her. We invite all who knew and loved Lois to leave memories and upload photos to her memorial page. Your stories and pictures will help us all celebrate her remarkable life and keep her spirit alive in our hearts.