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Lois M. Maloy

Obituaries | The Tube City Almanac | November 25, 2025

Heaven gained an Irish twinkler , though Talbots shares may have dipped, on November 23rd with the passing of Lois Maloy, just two days shy of her 99th birthday. Clever, impish, and able to find the funny side of anything, Lois was unforgettable and deeply loved by all who knew her.

Born November 26, 1926, to Big Jim and Lydie (Rank) Maloy on Halcomb Avenue in Clairton, PA, Lois lost her older brother early in life but became the apple of her father’s eye. She lived for 75 years in the same house her dad built the year she was born—a home that also welcomed every Maloy aunt and uncle who needed a “temporary” place to stay but rarely moved out. She loved her family, her street, and the Lepry neighbors who became part of her extended clan.

Lois graduated from Clairton High School in 1944 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Penn State in 1948. In 1950, she joined the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office under Jim Malone, typing indictments for the likes of Pete Flaherty and Judge Silvestri Silvestri—and meeting her lifelong best friend, Joanie Fleckenstein.

Lois loved to work—or more accurately, she loved getting dressed up and going downtown. And did she ever dress: gloves, hats, handbags, scarves. Pure old-school class. She was whip-smart, wickedly funny, and brutally honest. No one ever left a conversation wondering, “What did Lois mean by that?”

In her younger years, if Lois wanted a vacation and didn’t have leave time, she simply quit, knowing she could always “find another job.” After a stint at USS (not USX), she found her true calling when Silvestri Silvestri was elected Judge to the Court of Common Pleas in 1968.The Judge met his match in Lois. She ran a tight ship alongside unforgettable colleagues—tipstaffs John and Ed, and the legendary clerk Dawn O’Brien.

Their caseload often involved “complex” matters, usually meaning the Judge wrote pages of decisions longhand while Lois typed, cut, pasted, and retyped. Their daily lunch-hour walk down Fifth Avenue to Wood Street and back on Fourth became a ritual: greeting every lawyer in town, sampling treats, and laughing without saying a word.

After Judge Silvestri’s passing, Lois briefly considered retirement but instead joined Supreme Court Justice Stephen Zappala, where she became known for her gift of helping every caller—court-related or not.

Although she never married, Lois had plenty of children to care for. She adored Madeline Jackel’s three boys—Guy (Cheri), Bruce and Mark (Jean), and—and served Christmas breakfast to the Jackel family for decades. She was “Aunt Lois” to Joanie’s children—Stacey, Leslie, and Bob—and to their children as well.

Her lifelong car obsession began with Big Jim’s dealership. She needed a new car every two years—always white—and washed it daily.

Her adventures with Joanie spanned more than 60 years: Conneaut Lake in the 50s, Atlantic City beaches, and later, winter trips to Isla Del Sol, Florida. They made treasured friends, joined the American Legion thanks to Lois’ Civil War ancestry, and were greeted by name at their favorite Steelers bar. Their navigation challenges on drives to Florida became legendary—fixed only when they changed the TomTom GPS to a British voice.

When Joanie passed, the transition was difficult, but new friends stepped in. Cheri Jackel escorted every two weeks to Lora Pittman, Lois’ hairdresser for 42 years. Patty Maedinger, brought a fresh kind of fun: candy-store drives, Monday lunches at Tavern on the Hill, and dessert always first—served only on a properly ironed tablecloth. Eggnog was their shared weakness. And Sherri Kearns’ crew brought daily adventures: manicures, church visits, and feeding deer on the patio. Lois was loved fiercely until her final breath.

Lois loved laughter and the people she laughed with—and sometimes at. Her kindness, her sparkle, and the way she made others feel were her greatest gifts. In her honor, make someone laugh today.

Friends will be received in the A.J. Bekavac Funeral Home, 555 5th. St., Clairton, PA 15025 (412-233-5700), on Friday, November 28, 2025 from 2 PM to 5 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, November 29, 2025 at 10 AM in Triumph of the Holy Cross Parish, St. Thomas a Becket Church, Jefferson Hills. If attending the mass, please meet at the church. Burial will take place privately at St. Clare Cemetery, Clairton. www.bekavacfuneralhome.com

Originally published November 25, 2025.

Other deaths:
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