Obit Sunday -- Lois Howell Vidunas 1920-1973

3 generation pedigree for Lois Howell Vidunas

I remember attending my grandmother's funeral.  I didn't know the woman well, but I clearly remember many aspects of that time.  I remember a warm day, but it didn't seem overly hot.

Lois Howell Vidunas, about 1944
photo owned by William A. Vidunas

I was 12 or 13 years old at the time, and we stayed at Cousin Ruby's house, I believe, or with Aunt Pauline.  I remember washing my hair with bar soap for the first time, and eating fresh roasted Goobers (peanuts) for the first time.

(Jennifer, 2007)

check out the website to make your own!

I didn't have anything appropriate to wear, so Momma and I went shopping, bought a Navy-themed dress complete with wide white collar and navy-coloured tights.  Funny, I wonder if Shelley also had to have a new dress?  I guess my world was all about me, then.

A dress similar to the one I wore 

for the funeral, except with sleeves

(littleva8, 2017)

I helped pick out the flowers to go on her casket, and at the funeral I remember how proud I was that I was able to help with something so important.  Then I felt guilty, because what sane person feels prideful at a funeral?  I also felt guilty because everyone else was crying but I didn't.  Until my Cousin started crying, and that emotion became contagious.  I cried.

casket flowers similar to the ones on my grandmother's casket
I don't remember the flowers specifically

 (Jephry Floral Studio, n.d.)

Afterward, we hiked through a corn field to the Howell Family Cemetery.  On the way, Uncle Earl introduced me to the unique pleasures of eating corn on the cob -- raw -- in the field.  Just hiking along, plucking corn off the stalk, shucking it and letting the husks fall where they may, and biting into the juicy corn kernals.  Yee-haw! they tasted great.

Vintage photo of girl eating corn 1900

(McPhee, 2012)

I don't remember leaving the cemetery.  Funny how memory works.

These are my school photos about this same time.  Kind of a geeky little kid who thought she knew everything at the time.










Below is the 1973 death certificate for Lois Howell Vidunas.  As with many of her North Carolina relatives, she went by her middle name.  Her last name is entered as Gendeau, since that was her last husband.  She died 18 July 1973 at 8:30 pm of Acute Cardiac Failure. She had a heart attack caused by clogging of the arteries (Occlusive Coronary Artery Disease). Interestingly, she'd also had Pulmonary Tuberculosis. She was a widow again.

1973 death certificate Lois Howell Vidunas

Here is her gravestone.  Again, notice her first name is Lois, because that is how her family and friends knew her.  And the last name is Vidunas, I think it is because she never really got over the death of her beloved Joseph Vidunas.

1973 Gravestone for Lois Howell Vidunas
photo by A.Price 2005

Below is the obituary.  It reads as follows:

Mrs Annie Lois Gendreau, 53, died Wednesday in East Meadow, NY.  Funeral services will be held Saturday at 10am ... in Goldsboro.  Burial will be in the Howell family cemetery.

She is survived by one son, William Alfred (sic) Vidunas of Alexandria La.; three brothers, Melvin T. Howell of Springfield, Va., William R. Howell of Herndon, Va., and Henry H. Howell of Dumfries Va.; four sisters, Mrs. Earl Edwards of Goldsboro, Mrs. Harry Garris of Danville, Va., Mrs. Eddie J. Wright of Eaton-Rapids Mich., and Mrs. Nick Liberoutey of Goldsboro; three grandchildren.

•  In this obituary, she has her full first and middle names, and her last name is Gendreau.  Legally, that is all true.  
• She was only 53 years old.  For some reason, I thought she was ancient.  It could be my childish perspective, though
• Melvin T. Howell is known as Thadeus
• William R. Howell is known as Roland
• Mrs Earl Edwards is Pauline Howell Edwards
• Mrs Harry Garris is Blanch Howell Garris
• Mrs Eddie Wright is Alline Howell Wright
• Mrs Nick Liberoutey is Eula Howell Liberati
• the three grandchildren are myself and my sisters

Obituary Lois Howell Vidunas
1973

Jennifer. (2007). How to Roast, Skin and Store Peanuts! Retrieved May 27, 2017, from Self Reliant School: http://selfreliantschool.com/how-to-roast-skin-and-store-peanuts-a-guarantee-that-
           your-peanut-butter-will-never-have-salmonella/
Jephry Floral Studio. (n.d.). Pastel Casket Spray. Retrieved May 27, 2017, from Jephry Floral Studio: https://www.jephry.com/flowers/soft-pastel-casket-spray/

littleva8. (2017, May 18). Bonnie Jean Girls Easter Navy Nautical Striped Sailor Holiday Uniform Dress 4-16. Retrieved May 27, 2017, from Ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/

           Bonnie-Jean-Girls-Easter-Navy-Nautical-Striped-Sailor-Holiday-Uniform-

           Dress-4-16-/132104279615

McPhee, L. (2012). esther eating corn, c1900. Retrieved May 27, 2017, from ... like a girl: 
           http://lauramcphee.tumblr.com/post/16172329085/esther-eating-corn-c1900