Lois L. VanDuzer Chakiris

The brightest light that ever did shine is now the brightest star in the nighttime sky. On a beautiful sunshine-filled day, Lois Louise (Van Duzer) Chakiris, 92, of Jermyn, Pa., passed away peacefully at home and entered the waiting arms of her late husband, Peter, on March 22, 2021. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by daughter, Stephanie Lee Chakiris; her brothers, Donald and James VanDuzer; and her parents, Gilbert Franklin and Mildred Barbara (Scheuch) VanDuzer.

Lois is survived by her loving children, Pamela (David) Burt, Priest River, Idaho; Susan (Martin) Busby, Ellisville, Miss.; Peter (Debra) Chakiris, Lake Ariel, Pa.; Mark Chakiris, Providence, R.I.; Chris Chakiris, Jermyn, Pa.; and Heather Chakiris, Albany, N.Y.; 16 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren (with another on the way); and numerous nieces and nephews. She was very fortunate to spend her remaining years at home in the loving care of her family, especially her son, Chris, and granddaughter, Lovely Burt.

Born on Aug. 31, 1928, in Peckville, Pa., she spent her early youth in Blakely. She worked as a pin girl in her grandfather's bowling alley on Blakely Corners. Later, her family moved to Justus, Pa., where Lois played basketball for and later graduated from Scott High School in 1946. In 1950, she became a registered nurse in the graduating class of St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing in Carbondale. She married her husband, Peter, in January 1951 - as Lois so often liked to say, "I thought I was marrying a Greek god, but I ended up marrying a damned Greek."

Lois was a force of nature. She raised her six surviving children without the luxury of a nanny or daycare, while her husband worked long hours as a pipefitter - sometimes away from Pennsylvania - to support their family. Lois instilled in her children a strong sense of, "Put your big girl/boy pants on and take care of it."

She loved to be outside, riding her snowmobiles and horses, or going for hikes with her family, friends and dogs at Aylesworth Park or in the beautiful mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. One of the last surviving "neighborhood moms," Lois took tremendous pride in her Jermyn community, helping to coordinate the 1970 Centennial, lending her beautiful alto singing voice to the choir in the First Methodist Church, joining the Order of the Eastern Star for the Aurora Lodge #523, volunteering for the Lakeland Booster Club, letting her grandchildren go wild at Miller's Five and Dime candy store on Main Street, feeding the birds (especially her favorite cardinals and hummingbirds), and/or taking a garbage bag with her to pick up litter around Crawford's Field (now Callahan Park) while walking her dogs.

As a mom, there were few better. She never missed a game, a play or a concert. A passionate tennis fan, Lois taught several of her children and many of her grandchildren how to play a killer game. Lois herself played tennis until she was 84 years old. A lover of travel and history, Lois loved to visit new places and meet new people - hence, her nickname, "Captain Friendly's Daughter." She never met a stranger and was unafraid to dance anywhere a song particularly moved her - the store, the kitchen, or the streets of New Orleans. She taught her daughters how to sing harmony, and car rides were always filled with rousing renditions of "If You Were a Tulip," "K-K-K-Katy," "A Bushel and a Peck" and "Le Carillon de Vendome."

A foodie before the word even existed, Lois was a connoisseur of all things sweet. She particularly loved butter pecan ice cream from Montdale Dairy. Her snowball cookies, steamed brown bread, and chicken and baking-powder biscuits were legendary, as was her variation on her mother-in-law's chocolate pudding cake. Lois was compelled to add raisins to chocolate-chip cookies, much to her husband's and daughter's dismay. And her blue duck candy dish was always full.

After a life well lived, she is now reunited with her husband, daughter, parents; her beloved grandmother, Sabina (Minzenberger) Scheuch; her dear friends, Dorothy Nafus and Delores Rodway; and her loyal Scottish terrier, Fala. Her children and grandchildren will carry her spirit with them always.

The Chakiris family would like to thank Kayla and the wonderful nursing team at Hospice of the Sacred Heart for their compassionate care of Lois in the home she loved and lived in for more than 67 years. In lieu of flowers, the family invites memorial donations in Lois' name to the American Diabetes Association or your favorite animal rescue/charity.

Arrangements are being coordinated by Battenberg Funeral Home, 363 Washington Ave., Jermyn. A private memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family.