Obituary of Lois Jean Kaytor

LOIS JEAN TUFFORD KAYTOR, Reg. N (retired)

January 21, 1919 – December 29, 2022

It is with great sadness for her loss and equal joy for her long life that the family announces the recent death of Lois Jean Kaytor, beloved sister of Margaret Tufford Romagnoli.  She died quietly at home at the Orchard View Apartments, Vineland, Lincoln, with expert, supportive, and loving caregivers; her friends for more than 15 years.  Her last days were spent joyfully with family visitations and the voices of children. Lois Jean admired all the grandchildren and great grandchildren of her husband’s family, along with the descendants of her sister and brothers (including the greats and great greats).  She demonstrated considerable interest in their achievements, providing support when needed. It is fitting that many of her final memories were of them.

Lois Jean Tufford was born in the Library at Garthstock Farm, Clinton Township, Village of Beamsville, Ontario, Canada; the third of six children born to the late Margaret Beatrice Wilcox Tufford d1979, (Isabella Thompson Wilcox d1937 and Israel Wilcox d1922) and William Moot Tufford d1969, (Catherine Magdalena Moot d1943 and John Grobb Tufford d1926).  Lois Jean graduated the Grobb School 1932 and Beamsville High School 1937. In 1942 she achieved her childhood goal by graduating from the Hamilton General Hospital School of Nursing, and then qualifying as a Registered Nurse in 1943.  Known affectionately as Tuffy, she continued to work in the Maternity section of the Mount Hamilton Hospital, (later Nora Frances Henderson and now Juravinski).  In 1949, Lois Jean seized a special opportunity to attend the six-month on-site post graduate course in the science and practice of Obstetric Nursing and the principles and practice of supervision and Ward Teaching, at the prestigious Margaret Hague Maternity Hospital in Hudson County, New Jersey.  This led to her appointment as the Head Nurse of the Nursery at the Henderson Hospital where she worked until her retirement 1981; after 38 years of loyal service to the babies and families of the Hamilton area.

In 1987, at age 68, Lois Jean married a widower Albert Edwin Kaytor, forming a loving and supportive union; immersed in the Kaytor family and their long and dedicated involvement in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.  Lois Jean was devoted to her Church and acted as the Communication Secretary of the Hamilton Mountain Seventh-Day Adventist Church for many years. When it became difficult for her to continue driving, at age 90, there were a number of members of the Lincoln Pioneer Adventist Church Family who ensured that she was able to attend regular services and enjoy the fellowship of Sabbath dinners. The family wants to acknowledge and thank all of them for their friendship and support throughout her long life.  They also thank Chaplain David Gifford for his pastoral care, and Pastor Stanley McFarlane, who was a regular visitor to Lois Jean at Orchard View, supporting her spiritual needs to the end of her life. Lois Jean looked forward to the soon coming of Jesus, had a close relationship with the Lord, and lived her life as a committed Christian.

Lois Jean chose her own path throughout her life, beginning in 1933 when she took Temperance Pledge.  She qualified to drive in 1962 at the age of 43 and bought a Chevy II.  With her 35mm camera at the ready, she travelled extensively, visiting most continents, took on the role of family photographer when point and click was unknown, and leaves us now with thousands of visual memories of our own lives.  During her years in Vineland, Lois Jean continued to be a lifelong learner and with the support of her crafty neighbours, practised watercolours, quilling, and even crocheting which led to her completion of many prayer shawls. With the physical, mental, spiritual and religious support of an extended family and many friends, in an encouraging and productive living environment; Lois Jean lived a very outward facing life, always practical about her needs and how best to achieve them.

In addition to regular Staff care, at the end of her life she was also supported by her daily caregiver JoAnn, St Elizabeth visiting Nurses, a Palliative Care Team of Nurses, and her family physician, Dr. Melissa MacEwen.

Lois Jean was predeceased by her husband Albert Edwin Kaytor d2004, her stepdaughter and great partner in cooking and crafts Jean Kaytor Taylor d2014, her brother David Thompson Tufford d1935, brother John Malcolm Tufford d1997, brother Evan Tennyson Tufford d1998, sister Muriel Isabelle Tufford, UE d2007. 

7^th Generation French Huguenot and Great-Great Granddaughter of local Pennsylvania German Pioneers, Phillip Tufford and Mary Fretz; the third in a line of four centenarian women, Lois Jean is survived by her remaining sibling Margaret Magdalene Tufford Romagnoli UE (Alfred  d1999), son-in-law Ross Taylor (Jean Kaytor Taylor d2014), grandson Barry Taylor (Judith Tataryn), great granddaughter Ashley Taylor Davis (Eric), great-great grandson Theodore Wesley Davis b2022; granddaughter Sherry Taylor Grill, great grandchildren Curtis, April and Emily Grill.

Throughout her life she continued to maintain diaries as well as poetry writings particularly for special family occasions, always leaving sweet memories behind for the enjoyment of others. She stipulated there be no eulogy and how fitting that she has documented her own thoughts and prayers and we have shared a lifetime of notes, prayers, and poetry over the past weeks.

Family and friends will celebrate the long and accomplished life of Lois Jean Tufford Kaytor on Monday January 9, 2023.  Visitation at Tallman Funeral Home, 3277 King St., Vineland at 10:00am, the service at Tallman Vineland Chapel at 11:00am and interment in the Vineland Cemetery, close by her progenitors Philip Tufford and Mary Fretz and cohorted with her Tufford, Grobb and Moot family ancestors.  In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to support the Jordan Historical Museum Endowment Fund, or the Friends of Lincoln’s History Archives. 

To view the service online please use the following link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82325137793?pwd=ZENMb0NtM0E4Z0tIOHY4cDg3aHNWZz09

Please use the following link to view the Order of Service: https://online.fliphtm15.com/hrps/bbsw/