Funeral Details

Lois Mayer Unell passed away peacefully at her home on November 19, 2022. She was 88.
Lois is survived by her sister, Jean Gelbort, and by her adoring daughters Kathy (Cary) Klein, Nancy (Kevin) Ventrudo and Peggy Unell; her cherished grandchildren Joshua (Samantha) Klein, Julie (Evan) Macmillan, Scott (Emily Brosius) Ventrudo, Charles (Natalie) Hodson, Andrew Klein, Lauren Ventrudo, Eric Hoffman and Jared Hoffman; and her treasured great grandchildren Levi Klein, Silas Klein, Lucy Macmillan, Henry Macmillan, Casey Klein and Noah Brosius-Ventrudo. Her loving husband, Selwyn Sye Unell, preceded her in death. Her family is grateful for the wonderful care she received in her final years from a group of caregivers and nurses, including Edgar Yap, Leo and Evelyn Mangubat, Emil Maramot and Rouel Belen.
Born in St. Louis to parents Julius Mayer and Paula Vogel, Lois moved to the Chicago area as a young girl and lived there for the rest of her life. She graduated from New Trier High School and attended the University of Wisconsin before marrying Sye in 1955. Lois led a full life, volunteering for many organizations in the community, traveling frequently with Sye to far flung and exotic locales, and planning trips for others as a travel agent.
She surrounded herself with friends and was an avid and accomplished player of many games, bridge and mah jongg being preferred when she wasn't playing Scrabble or gin with her grandchildren. She loved nothing more than when she and Sye were with their girls and their families, and family gatherings were filled with love, laughter, FHB, and shooing people out of the kitchen at clean up time. She will be greatly missed. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, November 22, 2022. Contributions may be made in Lois' memory to Chicago Botanic Garden (www.chicagobotanic.org/donate) or the charity of donor's choice. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com.