Helen “Lois” Johnston

Helen “Lois” (née Smith) Johnston of Swarthmore passed away on July 12, 2021. She was 95.

Born in Philadelphia in 1926, Lois was the daughter of the late Russell and Helen (née Cook) Smith. She graduated from Frankford High School. In 1947, she received a diploma from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania’s nursing school and became a registered nurse. She worked for several years in obstetrics and radioisotopic medicine in New York City and Philadelphia before becoming a mother and homemaker. She later applied her nursing skills to volunteer service on American Red Cross bloodmobiles. 

Lois was an accomplished seamstress and took pleasure in making clothing and upholstery, as well as refinishing and restoring furniture. She devoted much of her time to volunteer work in the community, helping to found the thrift shop of Trinity Episcopal Church in Swarthmore, where she worked for many decades. She also coordinated drivers for the Fish program (providing transportation for medical appointments), and worked at the food cupboard at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Chester. 

Lois was a long-time member of Trinity Church, where for many years she sang in the choir and served on the altar guild. She enjoyed gardening and traveling with her husband and other family members, she was an avid reader, and she loved solving cryptograms and putting together jigsaw puzzles. Her wit and sense of humor were a delight to friends and family.

Lois was the beloved wife of the late Thomas W. Johnston, Jr.; loving mother of Susan L. Johnston (Robert Stein), Elizabeth Ann Johnston, and the late Thomas E. Johnston, II; mother-in-law of Joanne Johnston; adoring grandmother of Shannon, Shaun, Michael, and Sarah; great-grandmother of Brianna, Justin, and Lemar; and dear sister of Peggy Ann Friday, the late Isabelle McGrody, and the late Elizabeth “Betty” Dike.

Relatives & friends are invited to a celebration of her life on Wednesday, August 4, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church, 301 N. Chester Rd., Swarthmore. Her funeral service will start at 11 a.m. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to Feeding America, 161 North Clark Street, Suite 700, Chicago, IL 60601, www.feedingamerica.org, would be appreciated. (Please include “Helen S. Johnston” as the tribute name with your donation.) 

Arrangements are courtesy of Spencer T. Videon Funeral Home, 8401 West Chester Pike, Upper Darby, PA 19082, 610-259-2200. Online condolences may be left at www.stvfuneralhome.com.