Lois A. Wilson

SCHODACK - Lois A. Consolo Wilson, 79, passed away on October 5 at the Albany Medical Center Hospital after a battle with colon cancer.

Lois grew up in Rensselaer and graduated from Cardinal McCloskey High School, Albany in 1962.

She is predeceased by her parents A. John Consolo and Marguerite Hart Consolo and her grandparents, Andrew P Hart and Elizabeth Burke Hart.

Survivors include her children, Michael Wilson of Whitehouse, Tenn., Laura Wilson of Chester, N.J., and Elizabeth Madinabeitia of Chester, N.J. She is also survived by her siblings Michael Consolo (Ricki Shapiro), Nancy Ippoliti (Robert), John Consolo (Nancy), Mary Forman, Susan McDonough (Ron LaBarr), and Christine Paulsen (Ray). Grandchildren are Emily, Andrew and William Madinabeitia as well as Beckett Baumann.

Lois also leaves to cherish her memory, her life partner, Ian Hart, as well as many, many veterans around the capital district.

Lois lived a full life, raising her children, working as a landscape designer with the plants and flowers she loved, driving around the country, and working to take care of her cherished veterans.

Lois took 23 drives around the United States and especially loved the time she spent in the Southwest. She made many friends throughout America and particularly with the Taos Pueblo Indians of New Mexico. She loved the Pueblo Indian culture so much that she collected their pottery, jewelry and other artifacts and opened her store, Native Clay, first in Bridgeport, CT and later in Chatham, NY.

After she closed her store, Lois worked with her friend Melody Burns, Veterans Miracle Center director, where they helped needy veterans and their families. She organized the Veterans and Friends Breakfast Club to bring veterans together.

She also volunteered for the Capital District Patriot Flight and helped organize and raise funds for the Honor Flights that flew veterans on a free one-day excursion to Washington, D.C., where the veterans visited their war monuments and historic sites. She also helped raise funds for other veterans' causes.

A memorial service will be at the W. J Lyons Jr. Funeral Home, 1700 Washington Avenue, Rensselaer, NY, at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 14th. Relatives and friends are invited to call prior to the service on Friday beginning at 10 a.m. Lois requested no flowers and in lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Veterans Miracle Center, VMCAlbany.org, 110 Interstate Ave., Albany, NY 12205.