Lori Edlin [nee Nielsen]
Born in Buffalo, N.Y. to Gladys [nee Staffeldt] and Irving Nielsen, Lori spent her early life in the Buffalo, NY area, and with her husband Bob, made corporate moves to Convent Station, NJ, Grand Rapids, MI., Bloomfield Hills, MI., and Zionsville, IN. making friends each step along the way. She moved to Randolph, NJ in 2015 where she enjoyed her final, enjoyable, productive years.
Predeceased by her beloved husband, Bob, Lori leaves behind her daughter Karin; [Tom Hamilton], son Craig [Becki]; grandsons Dave Hamilton [Ashley], Scott Edlin and Mark Edlin; granddaughters Lauren Hough [Julian] and Erika Hamilton [Chris Blauner]; sister Nan Jensen and nephew Jeff Jensen.
Lori had beautiful hands, something her granddaughter admired. But the underlying beauty was in what she did with them. From ornaments offered for sale at fundraisers to award-winning needlepoint pictures to knitting for a designer, her hands never stopped moving. So many of us have afghans, Christmas stockings, sweaters, ski caps, mittens, doll clothes, and holiday decorations to remember her by.
Those remarkable hands were also adept at cooking. Lori once said if she ever had to be on her own and make money, she would become a caterer. She especially loved making new appetizers and non-traditional dishes. Her Swedish smorgasbord during the holidays was a big hit with her friends in Zionsville and was featured in the local press. Our family remembers so many fun times cooking in the kitchen, often with her sister, and then chowing down on delicious food presented in a way that a gourmet caterer today would envy.
Calling herself a depression baby, Lori was raised during a time when money was scarce. She wasted nothing and that included leftovers which often ended up in delicious soups. That mentality extended to saving wherever she could and watching her nest eggs grow. She saved scraps of yarn and material to be used for future projects, winnings from playing cards, savings from using newspaper coupons. She controlled her household expenses by never spending beyond the amount allocated to her budget envelopes. Her ability to optimize money was no doubt appreciated by the organizations in which she volunteered to be treasurer and Bell Aircraft Company, where she worked in her younger years as a bookkeeper.
A voracious reader, Lori preferred historical fiction and tales that tickled her imagination and secret wish to one day live in a Mansion.
Lori loved to dance. Her favorite holiday was Christmas. She loved to laugh and especially appreciated witty, intelligent humor. All these things made her the perfect supportive partner for her husband, Bob, who started in sales and rose to an Executive position at RCA Corporation.
She never complained. When life handed her challenges, she dug down into herself and kept moving forward with a smile and a driving curiosity of what would happen next. We will miss her wise and balanced counsel and for the many quiet ways she enriched our lives.
Family will gather in a private memorial service later this year. Lori’s final resting place will be in Zionsville, IN alongside her husband.
Our grateful thanks go to the staff at Care One- Madison and to Lori’s friend, Joanne Lord, for keeping her safe and comfortable during the Pandemic Quarantine.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to your local food bank would be appreciated.
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