Lois M. Driscoll, 87

If you asked Lois Driscoll which was her favorite car, she'd be quick to answer: her 1964 bright red VW bus. She dubbed it a happy car, perfect for conveying her eight children, their friends, dogs and belongings over hill and dale in Redding, CT.

The bus gave way to a series of station wagons as she worked tirelessly to bring a family safely into adulthood - through the tumultuous sixties, into a new century, ultimately proudly displaying the stickers of eight colleges on the back. Those kids went on to earn college degrees, four master's degrees, a law degree and a nurse practioner's license. She felt a deep pride for her children's many accomplishments.

The family later expanded with 13 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Her journey ended on June 4th at Regional Hospice in Danbury, CT. She was 87.

Born Lois McNamara in Watertown, MA, in 1930, she spent much of her childhood in Washington, DC, before her family relocated to Connecticut, where she met her beloved husband, Peter.

She attended Finch College and married in August 1951, soon after Pete's return from Korea. They moved to Beaufort, SC, while he completed his service, then made their way back to Connecticut to build their life with the birth of their first child.

Calling Redding, CT, home for 40 years, Lois volunteered, taught nursery school, led the Girls Club and drove. She drove to schools, and lessons, and games, and the occasional emergency room. And when the youngest entered kindergarten, Lois received her real estate license. Starting out in the back room of Pete's insurance agency, she built a thriving business before retiring in 1991.

Retirement brought the couple back to South Carolina, first to Hilton Head and later near Beaufort, to Dataw Island. Lois continued to volunteer, finding a special place with her sisters in PEO, an abiding commitment to her parish church and a close cadre of friends who saw her as the glue, keeping them together, sharing picnics on the beach and chili for the super bowl.

She returned to Redding in 2014 to be closer to family and lived at Ridgefield Crossings for nearly two years, where she formed close bonds with her neighbors and rarely stayed still for long, taking writing courses, playing bridge and continuing to support PEO.

Lois was predeceased by her youngest son Andy, her husband Peter, her brother Frank McNamara and her sons in law Samuel M. Kinney, III and James A Kagdis. She is survived by her sister Jeanne Eckrich; her children Peter, Susan Devlin, Carol Kagdis, Jennifer Petrino, Beth Kinney, Matthew, and Jeanne Ammermuller; her grandchildren Doug Driscoll and Anne Weinschenk, Andrew Devlin and Elizabeth Hackett; Adam and Daniel Kagdis and Jenna Fenner; Julia Wells; Meg Davis and Mark Kinney; Conner Driscoll; Erica and Allison Ammermuller and their families.

Services will be held on Saturday, June 9 at 11:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, Georgetown, CT.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sacred Heart Church or to Regional Hospice, Danbury, Ct. To offer the family online condolences please visit boutonfuneralhome.com.