Lois Iak

Lois (Bowles) Iak, 83 of Henrietta, NY died at the Journey Home Hospice House, on Friday, August, 8th 2025 after a brief but courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
Lois was born on April 2, 1942 in Hornell, New York to Clyde and Ruth (Greenfield) Bowles. She was a 1961 graduate of Hornell Senior High School.
Lois married William James Iak on July 3, 1965 and they celebrated 60 years of marriage this year. In addition, she is survived by her daughters, Kimberly (Robert) Swaisgood of Lima, NY., and Danelle (Scott) Leathersich of Henrietta, NY, her grandsons Logan Swaisgood of College Park, MD and Cole Leathersich of Henrietta, NY, and granddaughter Kali Leathersich of Henrietta, NY her sister, Mary (Robert) McBride of Williamsburg, VA and brother-in-law G. Stanley (Carole) Iak of Hornell, NY. Additional survivors include her nieces, Patricia (Bowles) Foster and Shelley (Glenn) Kane and nephews James (Marinda) Rucinski, Jeffrey (Georgia) Bowles, Michael(Paula) Bowles and Scott (Chris) Iak and well as ten great nieces and nephews, numerous cousins and countless friends. A celebration of life will occur on Saturday, October 18, 2025 from 1-3 pm at Wildwood Country Club in Rush, NY. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the following organizations that Lois held dear in her heart: Rush Henrietta Spotlight Theater Erin Wright and Friends of Rush Henrietta Singers c/o John Polvino, Rush Henrietta Senior High School, 1799 Lehigh Station Rd, Henrietta, NY 14467.
Lois was the oldest daughter of Ruth (Greenfield) and Clyde Bowles. She was born in Hornell, NY on April 2, 1942 and attended Hornell Central School. Following graduation in 1961, she went to work for IBM in Rochester, married Jim and then became a stay at home mom to raise her two daughters. Lois returned to work after her girls were in high school at the dollhouse company Greenleaf where she managed production, sales and marketing. She retired from Greenleaf in 1992. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She loved her grandchildren as well as all of their friends which earned her the titles, "dance grandma" and "extra bonus grandma". Lois demonstrated selflessness like no other and would drop everything for anybody who needed help.. She took great joy in organizing and cooking meals for family gatherings. For the past 35 years has prepared every holiday meal for the family of twenty. There was always a hug and an open seat at the table to anyone who needed it. She loved traveling the country with Jim, vacationing with the family, scrapbooking with her daughters and girlfriends, gardening, and birdwatching. The most cherished part of her life was being a grandma and spending time with her grandchildren. She volunteered free daycare for each grandchild when her daughters had to go back to work and she attended every single event of her three grandchildren, including concerts, musicals, dance competitions/recitals, sporting events, and award ceremonies. She gave her time to Rush Henrietta Spotlight Theatre preparing meals, buying snacks and helping backstage each spring for the musical crew! Lois was always a hugger and her love and kindness live on in the hearts of those who loved and knew her.