Lois Hitzel

Lois Mae Hitzel (née Stell) passed away peacefully on March 1, 2026, at the age of 95. Born on August 16, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Walter and Louise Stell (née Schneeberger). She lived a long life centered on family.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert T. Hitzel, and sister, Laverne Rohan (née Stell).

She is survived by her children: Kathy Dyer (Scott), Robert T. Hitzel Jr., Laury Scheyer (Jim), and Patty Zaino (Joe).

She was a proud grandmother to Ryan Minter, Amy Minter, David Minter (Sylvia), Jenifer Resnick (Danny), Brooke Scheyer (Ryan), Jon Scheyer (Marcelle), Michael Zaino (Meaghan), Joey Zaino, and Nikki Hohlbein (Grant).

She was also blessed with many great-grandchildren: Bjorn, Blake, Maya, Romeo, Seven, Sky, Noa, Jett, James, Luke, Jake, Tyler, Zoey, Lucy, and Brooks.

She is further survived by loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.

From humble beginnings, Lois built a close and connected family through her resilience, warmth, and steady optimism. She had a natural exuberance, was quick to laugh, and was determined to see the good in people. She remained young at heart throughout her life.

Her home was always open — to extra guests, extra laughter, and extra fun. Birthdays and holidays were thoughtfully planned and often themed. Christmas favorites included Dancing with the Family, the Family Talent Show, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire — and Survivor Easter has gone down in family history as one of her most unforgettable creations.

She also made the everyday moments count. “Nana sleepovers” were a favorite tradition, and she was a familiar face on the sidelines at games, recitals, and performances. In big ways and small, she showed up for people she loved.

She leaves behind a family deeply connected by laughter, tradition, and unconditional love.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Scheyer Family Kid Captain Fund (bit.ly/LoisHitzelMemorial).