Lois B. Kluger, a registered nurse, active member of the community, devoted wife, and mother to four sons, died peacefully at her home in Williamsburg, Virginia on November 12, 2022 at the age of 89.

Lois Jean Brownstein was born in Troy, NY on November 14, 1932 to Avraham and Hilda. Lois was a woman of agency and conviction. At the age of 17, she left her hometown and moved to New York City.  She earned her nursing degree from the Brooklyn Jewish School of Nursing and later earned her BS and MS degrees. While in New York City, Lois was introduced by mutual friends to Jacob N. Kluger, a mechanical engineer. They were happily married for over 62 years until his death on October 11, 2016.

As a nurse, Lois worked in hospital nurseries in New York City.  After moving with her family to Rochester in 1963, she took a professional break to raise her children. She returned to nursing and worked at a home for the aged for several years. Lois then worked over 15 years at a NY State residential home for severely disabled children and teens. Despite the enormous challenges, she loved the work. Lois volunteered with the Red Cross Disaster Relief Services as a frontline nurse.

Lois was devoted to her Jewish faith.  She enjoyed attending synagogue and celebrating Shabbat and the holidays, opening her home to friends and community members.  In the 1980s,  Lois was active in organizing to help Soviet Jewry including letter writing, marching, and attending mass demonstrations in New York City and Washington, D.C.

She was an active member at Temple Beth El and later Congregation Beth Shalom, serving in multiple roles for the Beth Shalom Sisterhood, including co-president. She and Jacob raised their four boys to enjoy Judaism and support Israel.

Lois was a long-term member of the Rochester Chevra Kadisha burial society. A Chevra Kadisha, literally “a Holy Society,” is a group whose sole function is to ensure the dignified treatment of the deceased in accordance with Jewish law and tradition. This auspicious title exists because performing a favor for someone who is dead is considered the ultimate act of kindness, as a dead person can never repay the kindness, making it devoid of ulterior motives. As is tradition, Lois never spoke of her membership in the Chevra Kadisha. She kept her service and membership a secret from everyone but her husband.

Lois was very enthusiastic about many things that people often take for granted. She enjoyed participating in the Lois Club, attending local and national  meetings. She was an avid quilter and made beautiful quilts for her children and grandchildren. She was a core member of the “gourmet club,” hosting multi-course dinner parties focused on the food of a particular culture. A lover of books, Lois belonged to multiple book clubs throughout her adult life. In her eighties, she helped coordinate a book club and continued to enjoy playing bridge.

Lois was known for her beaming smile, especially when she was photographed with her children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren. Her joy was baking apple pies with them and teaching them her recipe.

Lois is survived by her brother Joseph Brownstein, by her children Larry (Josie), Levi (Karin), Avram (Dana), and Daniel (Beth). She will also be missed by her 16 grandchildren, her five great-grandchildren, and her many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She was greatly loved.

Graveside Services will be held at Britton Road Cemetery on MONDAY November 14, 2022 at 2:00 PM. CLICK HERE for a map to the cemetery. 

For those unable to attend the Graveside Service in person, please CLICK HERE to Zoom the service. (Please scroll down for additional information regarding the Zoom link provided by the family).

Meeting ID: 554 677 9503

Password: Secret1!

The family will be sitting Shiva on MONDAY until 9 PM and on TUESDAY from 8 AM – 9 PM at 3 Grandhill Way in Pittsford. CLICK HERE for a map to the Shiva House.

To all the family and friends who knew Lois, may her memory be a blessing.

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