Lois Hofmann Westerlund

Lois H. Westerlund, 90, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, October 6th, at home, being cared for by her children. She leaves a family who loved her deeply including three children, a son-in-law and daughter-in-law, and seven grandchildren: Eric George Westerlund, his wife Mandy and granddaughter Ramona (Nyack, NY); Christina Westerlund (Charlottesville, VA); and Charissa Westerlund Lyons, her husband Mark and grandchildren Corinne, Linnea, Joshua, Andrew, Noelle and Mae (Windham, NH). She also leaves nephews David and Stephen Hofmann, sons of her brother Don, and her dear cousin Steven Hofmann. She leaves sisters-in-law Heli Hofmann and nieces Anthea and Cecilia, Isabel and Caroline; and Virginia Sipp, and nephews Allan Sipp, Roger Sipp, and niece Kimberly Presson. She is predeceased by her husband, George E. Westerlund, Jr., her father, Joseph Enoch Hofmann, mother, Nellie Durr Hofmann, brothers Alan Hofmann, MD and Donald Hofmann, sister-in-law Merle Hofmann and their son, James Hofmann; and brother-in-law Allan Sipp, Sr.

Lois received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Wheaton College, Illinois and then completed her work to become a Registered Nurse at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio. She began her career working at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia under C. Everett Koop, future Surgeon General. It was during that time that she met her husband, George. After a few years of marriage and the birth of three children, and with George’s strong support and encouragement, she earned a master’s degree in English at Fairleigh Dickinson University and began teaching English and literature in New Jersey at local colleges. After the family moved to Rhode Island, she resumed teaching English and writing at Barrington College and later Roger Williams University in Rhode Island. There she taught English Literature and Biblical Themes and Values, a course she proposed and developed, among other classes. She also started the Roger Williams Student Christian Fellowship on campus and stayed in touch with many of her students, one of whom led the memorial service for her husband's funeral last year.

Lois was loved by everyone who had the privilege to spend time with her. Her mind was keen and deeply respected. She loved words and put much thought into every communication. She loved good writing (especially C.S. Lewis) and poetry (especially George Herbert) which added to her ability to have wonderful theological and philosophical conversations in which the hearer always came away with better understandings and new thoughts to ponder. She was active in the New York C.S. Lewis society and had multiple papers published and given. A highlight was delivering one in person at C.S. Lewis’ birthplace in Ireland. She loved to write poetry and was published in a magazine called Arkenstone. She could quote an amazing number of poems she had memorized and wrote personalized verse for family.

Her most beloved book was the Word of God. She loved its Truth, that we are sinners, needing to know Christ as Savior, and follow Him as Lord. She spent time in His Word daily, searching its pages daily to know her Savior more and more. She loved to converse with pastors, local Bible teachers, and online forum leaders. She formed a discussion group called the Rooftop Ring to discuss C.S. Lewis and Christianity. Sustaining her each morning and evening during her last days as during her adulthood were readings from Daily Light, a devotional book that provides Scripture verses for each day. She had an intimate relationship with God: He spoke to her through His Word, and she followed Him. She knew the joy of being His sheep and hearing His voice.

She had a heart for Christ’s body, the Church. She supported evangelical missions around the world, with many contacts in the field. She had pursued a degree in nursing to have a useful skill set to become a missionary in Africa, but God led her into a teaching career instead. She grew up in Plymouth Brethren chapels and had wonderful stories from the beloved fellowship in Baltimore that her family attended. In New Jersey she attended an Evangelical Free church with her family in Montvale, New Jersey, and returned to a Plymouth Brethren Assembly with the move to Rhode Island.

She loved to lead Bible studies and led many through her years on Earth. She led a neighborhood Bible study during her early parenting years in River Vale, New Jersey. When the family moved to Rhode Island, she led a Bible study for mothers of children attending a weekly Bible club. That study and those friendships lasted well beyond the children graduating from the club.

She loved well-written hymns and music. When she discovered the InterVarsity hymnal, she brought it home to her parents, excited to share it. She sang them the first hymn, then the second, then the third. At that point, her father asked if she was going to sing the whole book. During her final days she would ask for that hymnal to find hymns that had come to her mind for comfort. She would manage to sing the first line, and a daughter would read the rest. One included these lines: “Still we trust, though earth seem dark and dreary, And the heart faint beneath His chast’ning rod; Though rough and steep our pathway, worn and weary, Still we trust in God. Choose for us, God, nor let our weak preferring Cheat us of good Thou hast for us designed: Choose for us, God; Thy wisdom is unerring. And we are fools and blind. Let us press on, in patient self-denial, Accept the hardship, shrink not from the loss: Our portion lies beyond the hour of trial, Our crown beyond the cross.”

Lois was a prayer warrior. She spent hours upon hours lifting up the needs of her family, friends from the years, and missionaries before the Throne of Grace. She encouraged all her friends and family spiritually through words of support and prayers throughout her lifetime and the appreciation is evident through many messages she received in these past few weeks thanking her.

Lois loved growing roses, working jigsaw puzzles, needlework such as cross stitch and knitting, wildflower hunting, picking out furniture and interior decorating for the house her husband designed, caring for her beloved cats and making sure all of her family received birthday cards and holiday cards, sometimes in multiple amounts with the sentiments always edited and emphasized. She loved to celebrate each holiday with traditional family customs, including an annual New Year's Day breakfast she hosted. She was well known for her annual Christmas letter, never short on words but always deep with meaning.

In her retirement, Lois enjoyed shepherding a group of young women through their graduate studies and life experiences at the Christian Study Center in Charlottesville. She presented each with a recited and framed poem upon their graduation, and attended nearly all of their weddings— often giving a framed handmade crossstitch piece as a gift. She was honored to serve on the Board of the study center, enjoying various theological studies and discussions during that time. She formed friendships with students and foreign visitors and, along with her husband, often hosted them in her home. 

Lois loved her husband of 61 years, who went to meet His Savior just over a year ago. She laid down her life to care for him the last ten years of his as dementia took hold. In the past year she often spoke of longing to be with him in Glory.

When the cancer diagnosis was pronounced, she clung all the more to her Savior as her help and hope. She was determined to write, to share her spiritual insights and encourage others every day that God graciously gave. She was very thankful to remain at home in the beautiful house that her husband designed for her on a cove of Lake Monticello, with a back deck looking out on the cove and main lake, and surrounded by hickory, oak and pine trees, filled with birds. She loved the rain, and the last time she was able to go out and enjoy the deck God sent a beautiful gentle rain.

Lois had a heart of deep love for her family and friends and most of all, her Savior; now she is with the Savior who loved her first, as well as her husband, whom she has missed a great deal this past year. With grateful hearts, we honor her memory and example. We know her Savior has said to her: Well done, Lois! Welcome into the joy of your master.

A memorial service, conducted by Chris Duncan, will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 12th at Thacker Brothers Funeral Home at 138 Heritage Drive, Palmyra, Virginia, followed by a burial in Scottsville Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Christian Aid Mission, https://www.christianaid.org

Family and friends may share memories and photos at www.thackerbrothers.com.

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