Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Calls outside of office hours? No worries! Our team will respond within 10–15 minutes.
August 25, 2026
Services
A Memorial service is planned on September 26th, 2026 from 2-5 pm at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Rd, Wayne, NJ. A funeral service will begin at 5 pm.
Lois Signe Clapp, age 92, of Riverdale, NJ passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
Lois was born to George and Helen Almquist in 1934 at Passaic General Hospital. She graduated from Ridgewood High School and graduated with the Class of 1952. Lois continued her education at Paterson State Teachers College where she graduated in 1956. During her education she also went to Kean College to continue her studies in Early Childhood Endorsement and completed her courses in 1971.
After obtaining her degree, Lois became a Preschool Teacher. She remained working until her marriage to Walter Clapp, and the birth of her two children Jeffrey and Susan. Unfortunately, this marriage ended in divorce and she resumed her working life as a single mother as a Director of various Country Day Schools. After that, she started a new career with the State of New Jersey. She started as a Senior Probation Officer/Supervisor with the Criminal Division and then with Family Court in Paterson, New Jersey. She worked for 16 years until her retirement at age 65.
Lois dedicated her life to her children with little to no interest in dating again. However, this changed when she met someone who would remain in her life until this very day. While enjoying time out with friends at a restaurant, her contact lenses suddenly started to bother her, causing her to attempt to fix them by doing a winking motion. While doing this, a gentleman named Donald Syme had thought she was winking at him. They met that night, and years later, they met again, starting a friendship which led to a long-lasting partnership. Their relationship between Don and Lois was very loving, kind and caring towards one another. With their common interest in traveling, their lives were filled with trips to Europe and cruises several times a year around the world. Their friendships with others and relationships with their families was very important to them both.
During her retirement, Lois was blessed with two beautiful granddaughters, Heather and Lindsay. They were the loves of her life. Not a day went by without her involvement with her granddaughters. Daily calls and visits became her life. She created special traditions with them that even as adults, they could not live without. Easter egg hunts, Christmas stockings, and baking Christmas cookies became a staple in their lives. Lois took the girls on continuous day trips. Visits to historical sites such as the Dey Mansion, Jockey Hollow and the Sterling Hill Mine became regular occasions, not to mention teaching both Heather and Lindsay how to drive! Aside from the fun things a grandmother could provide, she also provided wisdom, advice and installed her strong faith in God in them. She enjoyed taking them to her church, St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church for mass, volunteering, and holiday services. She loved to show them off to her St. Timothy’s community! Lois’s impact on Heather and Lindsay’s lives has been instrumental in who they are today.
Throughout her life, Lois experienced many challenges and struggles. However, her personality was one of strength, resolve, and unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. She was a woman of many opinions, very funny, compassionate, and giving of herself to others through her time, talent and treasure. She was a wonderful friend and neighbor with an open door policy to all who were blessed to be in her life. Lois will be truly missed by Don, her family, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.
Lois is survived by her son, Jeffrey and his wife, Roseanne; beloved granddaughters Heather Susan and Lindsay Alexa; partner Donald Syme; brother and sister-in law, the Rev. Roy Almquist, Bishop Emeritus, and his wife Shannon Almquist; beloved nieces Ingrid, Karin, and their children. She was predeceased by her daughter Susan Helen Clapp in 1979, and her parents Helen and George Almquist.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Your Grandmother’s Cupboard, an organization close to Lois’s heart, which provides clothing and necessities to the poor.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
A Memorial service is planned on September 26th, 2026 from 2-5 pm at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Rd, Wayne, NJ. A funeral service will begin at 5 pm.
August 25, 2026
Services
A Memorial service is planned on September 26th, 2026 from 2-5 pm at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Rd, Wayne, NJ. A funeral service will begin at 5 pm.
Lois Signe Clapp, age 92, of Riverdale, NJ passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
Lois was born to George and Helen Almquist in 1934 at Passaic General Hospital. She graduated from Ridgewood High School and graduated with the Class of 1952. Lois continued her education at Paterson State Teachers College where she graduated in 1956. During her education she also went to Kean College to continue her studies in Early Childhood Endorsement and completed her courses in 1971.
After obtaining her degree, Lois became a Preschool Teacher. She remained working until her marriage to Walter Clapp, and the birth of her two children Jeffrey and Susan. Unfortunately, this marriage ended in divorce and she resumed her working life as a single mother as a Director of various Country Day Schools. After that, she started a new career with the State of New Jersey. She started as a Senior Probation Officer/Supervisor with the Criminal Division and then with Family Court in Paterson, New Jersey. She worked for 16 years until her retirement at age 65.
Lois dedicated her life to her children with little to no interest in dating again. However, this changed when she met someone who would remain in her life until this very day. While enjoying time out with friends at a restaurant, her contact lenses suddenly started to bother her, causing her to attempt to fix them by doing a winking motion. While doing this, a gentleman named Donald Syme had thought she was winking at him. They met that night, and years later, they met again, starting a friendship which led to a long-lasting partnership. Their relationship between Don and Lois was very loving, kind and caring towards one another. With their common interest in traveling, their lives were filled with trips to Europe and cruises several times a year around the world. Their friendships with others and relationships with their families was very important to them both.
During her retirement, Lois was blessed with two beautiful granddaughters, Heather and Lindsay. They were the loves of her life. Not a day went by without her involvement with her granddaughters. Daily calls and visits became her life. She created special traditions with them that even as adults, they could not live without. Easter egg hunts, Christmas stockings, and baking Christmas cookies became a staple in their lives. Lois took the girls on continuous day trips. Visits to historical sites such as the Dey Mansion, Jockey Hollow and the Sterling Hill Mine became regular occasions, not to mention teaching both Heather and Lindsay how to drive! Aside from the fun things a grandmother could provide, she also provided wisdom, advice and installed her strong faith in God in them. She enjoyed taking them to her church, St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church for mass, volunteering, and holiday services. She loved to show them off to her St. Timothy’s community! Lois’s impact on Heather and Lindsay’s lives has been instrumental in who they are today.
Throughout her life, Lois experienced many challenges and struggles. However, her personality was one of strength, resolve, and unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. She was a woman of many opinions, very funny, compassionate, and giving of herself to others through her time, talent and treasure. She was a wonderful friend and neighbor with an open door policy to all who were blessed to be in her life. Lois will be truly missed by Don, her family, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.
Lois is survived by her son, Jeffrey and his wife, Roseanne; beloved granddaughters Heather Susan and Lindsay Alexa; partner Donald Syme; brother and sister-in law, the Rev. Roy Almquist, Bishop Emeritus, and his wife Shannon Almquist; beloved nieces Ingrid, Karin, and their children. She was predeceased by her daughter Susan Helen Clapp in 1979, and her parents Helen and George Almquist.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Your Grandmother’s Cupboard, an organization close to Lois’s heart, which provides clothing and necessities to the poor.
Guestbook