Lois Almen Everett

1931 - 2024

Lois Almen Everett
01/02/1931 - 11/09/2024
Lois Almen Everett was born on January 2, 1931 and passed on November 9, 2024. She was born in Minneapolis, MN to parents Richard Schall and Ilyvon Langley and grew up there, enjoying ice skating, swimming, reading, and music. Lois caught the acting bug at an early age. She put on plays with her childhood friends, performed in plays in high school and college, hosted her own show on public television, and even was in a Dreyer's Ice Cream commercial.
In 1950 she married John Almen in Minneapolis. John's work saw them moving back and forth from the mid-west to the East Coast, before moving to California in 1968. During this time, Lois received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas City in 1957 and her Master of Arts from Temple University in 1967. She and John were always involved in the theater, including forming their own children's theater company in Cherry Hill, NJ. Lois continued to pursue her acting career in California, performing in dozens of plays at Hillbarn Theater in Foster City.
In 1972, Lois founded HIP Housing and was Executive Director from 1979 to 1995. In 1979, she and her good friend Jolly Perkocha launched the Home Sharing Program, designed to match individuals with home providers who have rooms to rent. In their first year, they placed 20 individuals in matched housing and today the program facilitates matches for over 400 individuals each year. Lois was extremely proud in seeing HIP Housing grow from a small nonprofit of 10 people to a premier San Mateo County affordable housing agency with two offices and more than 40 staff. Beyond her work with HIP Housing, Lois was the first woman president of the National Rehabilitation Association of San Mateo County, leading achievements in handicapped accessibility, and helped establish the California Homesharing Association, providing technical assistance in California and throughout the country. Lois also taught speech at the College of San Mateo and was the speech services director at the Crystal Springs Rehabilitation Center in San Mateo. In 1990, all of her significant civic efforts were recognized when she was enshrined into the San Mateo County Women's Hall of Fame.
In 1990, Lois married Ted Everett. Together they traveled the world, hosted large extended family gatherings and parties with friends, and participated in numerous local charities and political organizations. Like Lois, Ted was also a performer, and both were always ready to get on stage, frequently singing their favorite song - "I Remember it Well."
Lois was a vibrant woman, with a unique laugh that was infectious to all. She truly cared about people in need and offered her undivided attention to everyone. Lois is survived by her daughter Sandy Hanford (David) and son Eric Almen (Ana). She was affectionately known as Bonga to her grandchildren Richard Avila (Erin), Jana Almen (Lucas Correa), and Scott Hanford (Jen), and as GB to her great-grandchildren Drake, Scarlett, Milo, and Lucas. With her marriage to Ted, she enjoyed an even larger family with Ted's children Ellen Peters (Bill), Marjorie Broudy (Trale), and Eddie Everett; grandchildren Robby Peters (Kelly), Jessica Clouse (Brandon), and C Broudy; and great-grandchildren Emma, Willy, Hannah, Kennedy, and Camryn. She was predeceased by her husbands John Almen and Ted Everett, brother Richard Schall, sister-in-law Maryan Schall, Ted's daughter Connie, and Ted's granddaughter Kiara.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. The family asks that donations in Lois' honor be made to HIP Housing, https://hiphousing.org or to your charity of choice.