Lois M. Semler

Visitation for Lois Mary Semler (nee Balkey), 91, of Arlington Heights, formerly of Hoffman Estates and Palatine, will be held Monday, November 7, 2022 from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 2515 Palatine Road, Inverness. An Entombment will follow at St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery, Palatine.

Lois passed away surrounded by her loving family, Friday, October 28, 2022 in Arlington Heights.

Lois was born on June 10, 1931 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Carl and Mildred Balkey. She grew up in Glenshaw, PA., where she attended grade school and high school. Later in 1953, Lois graduated and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania.  On November 25, 1954, Lois married the love of her life, Bill and over the next sixty-seven years was blessed with five daughters, fifteen grandchildren and thirty-three great grandchildren. This gave her so much joy and fulfilment.  Lois enjoyed so many activities including bowling, golfing, playing bridge, reading, and of course, doing jigsaw puzzles.  She especially enjoyed traveling, from her yearly trips to Marco Island, Florida to numerous cruises, and so many other wonderful destinations along the way. More recently, what brought her the most joy was “Monday Game Day” with her devoted husband and loving daughters.

Through the infinite Grace of God and Lois’s boundless faith, her legacy and spirit will live on through the many hearts, minds and smiles of her family and friends who she so lovingly and unconditionally touched along the way.

Lois was the beloved wife of William A. Semler; loving mother of Kathy (Allan) Koenig, Karen (Gary) Bell, Jane (Dave) Martinovich, Joan (Tom) Moffett and Nancy (Bob) Gilhooly; loving grandmother of Jenny (Anthony) Fumarolo, Carrie (Shawn) Mills, Kristy (John) Benson, Michael (Erin) Koenig, Kate (Matt) May, Dustin (Kelley) Bell, Jason (Sarah) Bell, Jami (Chris) Duncan, Brian (Mackenzie) Buchek, Kelly (Chad) Buchek-Cunningham, Michael (Erin) Moffett, Michelle (Nick) Bruett, Meghan Moffett, Danny (Brittany) Gilhooly, Tim (Nichole) Gilhooly; loving great grandmother of Elle, Ava, Kaeli, Chloe, Lennon, Nola, Kaner, Ryder, Faylon, Millie, Alice, Lottie, Isla, Elin, Bode, Ryan, Addison, Evan, Nolan, Charlie, Hunter, Lauren, Grayson, Riley, Foster, Cora, Lincoln, Everett, Charlie, Caden, Declan, Mila and Vinny; dear daughter of the late Carl and Mildred (nee Morrissey) Balkey; fond sister of the late James and Carol.

Gifts, in lieu of flowers, may be made in Lois’s memory to www.autismspeaks.org or www.luriechildrens.org and are greatly appreciated.