Rev. Lois A. Reardin

The Reverend Lois A. Reardin, 89, of Apex, died on Friday, February 25, 2022 at Transitions Lifecare in Raleigh. She was born in West Chester, PA. and grew up in Elmwood Park, NJ with her parents and a large, close-knit family of aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was very active at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Paterson, NJ singing in the choir at every age group and belonging to the Youth Group where she made life-long friends and met Dick Reardin, who she would eventually marry. After graduating from Lodi High School in NJ, she attended William Paterson University where she graduated with a degree in elementary education. She married Dick in 1953 and eventually settled and raised their two children in Bloomsburg, PA. She loved teaching young children and happily taught kindergarten for over thirty years, primarily in Milton, PA. She continued to be active in her church, both at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Bloomsburg, PA and Christ Church in Berwick, PA. She was also very active in the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania most notably serving on Diocesan committees, serving as staff of middle and high school youth conferences for many years. In 1976 she attended the Episcopal national convention, representing the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, where she participated in the vote to allow women to become priests. She attended the Diocesan School of Christian Studies in Harrisburg, PA for three years and, several years later when her children left home, she followed her calling to the priesthood. She attended Virginia Theological Seminary and served as a Seminarian at the Church of the Holy Cross in Dunn Loring, VA. She was ordained a priest on May 12, 1988, at St. John’s Marietta, where she served as a Deacon and then priest. She spent three years as a Priest Associate at the Church of the Redeemer in Bryn Mawr, PA and eight years as Associate Rector at St. John’s Bala Cynwyd, PA. Despite her deep love for St. John’s and the many close friends she developed there, she made the decision to move to North Carolina to be closer to her daughter. She then served for 18 years as Priest Associate at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Cary, NC until she retired in 2016. She was known as a pastoral counselor, preacher, and liturgist. She remained an active and cherished member of the congregation until her death. Lois was a valued and beloved member of all the congregations in which she was a part. She made many friends, close confidants who came to depend on her for support and counsel. They have seen and known the joy of having a wise and compassionate presence among them who could understand their griefs and struggles, who could be where they are, and could listen with love and care. There is a webbed network of people whose lives she has touched in ways that have strengthened them to go forth and touch other people’s lives in similar ways, for hers was a ministry of example as well as presence. She was also known by many for her “outrageous” sense of humor. She was very quick-witted, always had a story that made people laugh, and was just so much fun to be around. When she is remembered, it is usually with a smile, and often a hearty laugh, through the tears. Her love of people was no more evident than with her family, whom she adored. She was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother. She cherished her time with her family; she taught, encouraged and supported them through life’s journey. She was the person they could go to for compassion and understanding or to laugh, have fun and celebrate the joys in life. She will be greatly missed. Lois was preceded in death by her parents, Burt and Emma Hutchinson; and later by her stepfather, James Norman; and her husband Charles Richard Reardin, Jr. Lois is survived by a son, Richard Reardin of Bloomington, IN; a daughter, Vicki Bradley (Rick) of Apex, NC; grandchildren Chip Reardin, Julia Reardin, Ross Bradley (Hailey) and Drew Bradley; and a great-grandson, Jackson Bradley. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, 221 Union Street, Cary. The Rt. Reverend Samuel Rodman and the Reverend George Adamik will officiate and the Reverend Candace Snively will assist. Inurnment will follow in the church memorial garden. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the church courtyard. The family would like to thank Transitions LifeCare for the kindness and care given to Lois and the family throughout her illness. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church or the Diocese of North Carolina’s Episcopal Relief fund.