Posted by Newspaper Transcriber on Saturday, October 21, 2006 at 17:39:44 :

Lois Fialkosky

Lois Fialkosky, a seven-year Montara resident and well-known for her volunteer work on the Coastside, died July 23 at age 70 at her home, exactly 40 years to the day after her mother, Helena Macdonald, preceded her in death.

Mrs. Fialkosky was born Lois McGrath in 1935 in Boston and grew up in Niantic, Conn. She married husband Robert Fialkosky in September 1954, and they raised six children before divorcing 26 years later. She came to Westminster, Calif., in 1968.

Mrs. Fialkosky worked for 10 years as a receptionist and legal secretary for State Farm Legal Services in Southern California. After that, she was a homemaker, raising her children.

"Lois was a remarkable woman and was adored by her family and friends," said Mrs. Fialkosky's daughter, Bev Hayes of Moss Beach. "She had a great sense of humor and great love of life."

Mrs. Fialkosky was well-known on the Coastside after moving here in 1999. She volunteered for many years with the Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce and Visitors' Bureau, pouring wine for the Art and Pumpkin Festival, helping with the Classics by the Sea classic car show at the Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, and other events. She also helped son Gary with his business.

She was particularly famous for her creativity, winning first place in many Halloween costume contests. Her costumes were "always unique - every year, there was something different," said her daughter.

Mrs. Fialkosky is survived by children and grandchildren Bill and Liisa Fialkosky, and son Ryan, of Redwood City; Beverly and Howard Hayes, and daughter Laura, of Moss Beach; Lynne Fialkosky of Miami; David Fialkosky of Tarpon Springs, Fla. and his son Brian of Gilroy; Gary McGrath and partner Kent Carter of Riverside; and Robert Fialkosky of Montara and his son Nolan, of Longview, Wash.

She is also survived by daughter-in-law Denise Fialkosky and son Matthew of Tarpon Springs, Fla., sister Aura Smith of Laguna Hills, and nieces Donna Daly of Menifee, Calif. and Sandra Staskal of San Jose, and her Maltese dog "Annie."

Since Mrs. Fialkosky loved to go to parties and dance, a party in celebration of her life will be held Sept. 23, which would have been her 71st birthday, at the American Legion Post 474 at 470 Capistrano Road in Princeton.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Sutter VNA and Hospice Foundation at 700 S. Claremont St., Suite 220, San Mateo, CA 94402.

Half Moon Bay Review and Pescadero Pebble, Wednesday, August 2, 2006