Lois Rebecca Gack's Obituary
Lois Rebecca Gack, age 96, died peacefully after a long, valiantly fought battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
It’s quite amazing to think that it was almost 100 years ago, in 1921, Copland and Ida Woods had a little girl they named Lois Rebecca. She was raised in the small community of Cutten, just outside of Eureka, CA. The roaring 20’s had no influence on them and the Great Depression did not diminish their lifestyle. It was a modest life without much want, but not much extra either. They had a vegetable garden, a cow for milk and chickens for eggs and Sunday dinner.
When WWII came, Lois did what most Americans did. She joined the service. After boot camp she was stationed in Newport, Rhode Island for the duration, where she made the rank of chief petty officer in the Navy. After the war she made her way to San Francisco where she met Oakly. He was the original Bowery Boys, big city street kid and she was Rebecca of Sunny Brook Farm. But somehow she civilized him.
In the spring of 1947 they married and moved to Sacramento where they built a house (with their own hands) and raised four sons. Lois was a loving and devoted wife and mother. She was strict but compassionate; not willing to spoil the child by sparing the rod. She broke a few yard sticks over our butts (deservedly!) but also held us when we fell down and taught us to go on. She also taught us, by her example, to be good, help others in need and be inquisitive about what’s outside the door, through reading and learning.
She was a good cook and loved to experiment with new dishes. She also loved crafting, and was especially known for her beautiful, museum quality, hand sewn quilts. She was intelligent with a wry sense of humor and a sharp wit and was a master of crossword puzzles and scrabble.
Lois was predeceased by her brothers, William and Howard Woods, and her son Timothy. She is survived by her husband Henry O. Gack and her three sons and their wives David and Cindy, John and Peggy, and Paul and Laura, as well as Tim’s wife Vicki. She was also blessed to have 4 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
We will miss her so much. She enriched the lives of all those within her sphere. She is our mom and we love her and always will.
Graveside services will be held Thursday, July 5, 2018 at 10:00 AM at Sunset Lawn Chapel of the Chimes, 4701 Maryville Blvd, Sacramento, CA.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations in Lois’s name may be made to:
The Alzheimer’s Association
P.O. Box 96011
Washington, DC 20090-6011
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