Lois Alberta Bloom's Obituary
Lois Alberta Bloom was born in Lansdale, Pennsylvania on December 17, 1929 to George H. Wilson and Susanna Frankenfield Wilson. Lois died peacefully at her home in Escondido with family by her side on Wednesday December 10, 2025. She was the loving wife of Samuel Cassel Bloom Jr. for 71 years.
Lois graduated from Lansdale High School in 1947. There she met Sam and they became lifelong sweethearts. They were married in 1950. Lois worked as a librarian, preschool teacher and administrative assistant. Her favorite job was the assistant to the Creative Director at Saatchi and Saatchi.
The Blooms moved their family to Palos Verdes in 1967 for a job opportunity for Sam. The family became active members at Neighborhood Church. Lois served on countless committees, including numerous selection efforts for new church leaders. With Sam, they sponsored the Church High School Youth group which filled their lives with lasting relationships. Their trips to the Navajo Indian Reservation opened their eyes to a new community of friends. California opened many opportunities that widened their lives.
Sadly in 1982 Lois and Sam’s eldest child Sammy died by suicide. The loss changed their lives. The support they received from the LA Suicide Prevention Center and Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services put them on a path to recovery. The Survivors After Suicide Support Group provided healing and led them to volunteer as facilitators for other survivors for more than three decades.
They also actively advocated for Suicide Prevention and Mental Health locally, statewide and nationally.
Lois chose to share her pain and all that she learned from it by writing. She founded “Survivors After Suicide” a newsletter for the The Suicide Prevention Center and edited it for 15 years. In addition, she wrote “Mourning After Suicide”, written for the families and friends of those who have lost a loved one to suicide. She sold 50,000 copies.
Lois and Sam relocated to Escondido to be closer to family in early 2022. After Sam’s passing in the fall of 2022, Lois took on the challenge of living without her lifelong spouse. She co-facilitated grief groups at the community where she lived. As always, she made deep connections and provided a listening ear and support to many.
Lois had a kind and generous spirit. She provided a light to many and was devoted to family, friends and faith. Being a mother and grandmother brought her the greatest of joy. Lois was an exceptional and empathic listener, an amazing friend and role model, a surrogate mother to many young people and a consummate shopper. She was a force to be reckoned with, and not one to cower from telling hard truths. She was also a life long learner who read voraciously, especially books on grief, loss and their intersection with faith. She was an incredibly supportive
wife, mother, daughter, sister, grandmother and aunt. She was a role model and mentor to many over her lifetime, at work, church and in her personal life. Most importantly, she cared deeply about others, especially the less fortunate and those who had experienced loss.
She had a favorite quote that speaks to the theme of her life: “What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?” George Eliot
Lois is survived by Daughters: Suzanne and Lisa, Grandsons: Matthew, Nicholas and David, Son-in-law: Bart, three great grandchildren, Sister-in-law: Phyllis Richardson, and numerous loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Samuel and son Sammy.
Lois’s Memorial Service will be held in Dittus Hall at Redwood Terrace at 710 West 13th Avenue, Escondido, California on Wednesday December 17, 2025 at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested donations to Save the Children or The World Food Program.
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