ROME – On the afternoon of Aug. 9, 2023, our dear wife, mother, and grandmother was called to her eternal home, walking the streets of gold with her Lord and Savior. Lois LaBelle was 96.

Born July 13, 1927, in Anson, Lois was the first-born child and only daughter of Paris Leroy and Martha Ellen (Dudley) Mosher. At the age of 2, young Lois and her family would move back to the family farm on Mosher Hill in Rome. It was in this farmhouse, passed down from several generations of the Mosher family, that Lois and her brother would be raised. Lois cherished every memory of her childhood growing up and “raising Cain” on the farm with her younger brother “Bud.” As a girl, Lois would work on the family farm and waitress at Jamaica Point Camps.

She would begin her formal education in a one-room schoolhouse in Rome; in 1945, she graduated from Williams High School in Oakland. Looking to expand her future, Lois furthered her education at Thomas College, living with her Aunt Louise during her time there. In 1946, she graduated from the school’s business program. For a short while, Lois went to work as an assistant to James Boyle, of Waterville.

Soon after she finished her formal schooling, a young man began courting her. Just back from the Navy serving in the Second World War, Richard “Dick” H. LaBelle found the love of his life. On Nov. 25, 1950, the Rev. George Wolf would marry Richard and Lois in Fairfield. Lois and Dick would settle with their young and growing family on their panoramic Jamaica Point farm. Lois could look just north and see her childhood homestead, then south to see the beauty of Great Pond.

In 1969, Lois would join her loving husband in founding Dick LaBelle’s Plumbing. While “Dad” went off to plumb each day, Lois would remain back in the home to keep the business finances and maintain a watchful eye on her five young children. She would also spend a tremendous amount of time devoted to keeping the farm.

Lois was born and raised in a loving Christian family and she lived every day well-grounded in the Lord. She would see every moment as an opportunity to witness about her faith and show the power of God’s love. Lois strived to be a faithful testimony to all those she was around. For over 45 years, Lois attended the Rome Baptist Church. It was at this small church in Rome Hollow that Lois would follow in her mother’s faithful footsteps as a Sunday School teacher to share God’s Word with young children. In 1991, Lois and Dick found a new home church in North Belgrade Baptist Church. Pastor Terry and Jackie Tiner would guide the church and become dear friends of the family. In their later years, North Belgrade Baptist Church would become Lakes Christian Fellowship, and the new leadership, Pastor George and Barbara Finnemore would play a most important role in shepherding Lois through her final years and days.

Lois loved the family farm and she loved Jamaica Point. In the winter, you would enter her kitchen and be overcome by the aroma of a fresh-baked treat just out of the oven. She would always keep an eye on the stove, ensuring there was always a fresh stick of wood ready to keep the great heat churning. There were countless conversations to be had around the kitchen table with so many friends and family. Each spring, Lois would begin the process of cleaning the yard, preparing for the summer guests to pass by. Once a week throughout the summer, one would find that Lois had traded in her signature skirts and heels for a pair of dungarees and a ball cap; she spent countless hours riding her Wheel Horse tractor, manicuring the vast lawn surrounding the farmhouse. As the garden came to fruition, “Gram” would can an assortment of vegetables, relishes, and pickles to fill the pantry.

Lois is survived by her loyal and loving husband of 72 years, Richard “Dick” Hamlin LaBelle. Also surviving are her five children, all of Jamaica Point, Rome, Susan LaBelle, Cynthia and husband Gary Wilkie, Sandra LaBelle, Sara LaBelle, and Alan and wife Lynn (Buzzell) LaBelle. “Grammie LaBelle” leaves behind eight grandchildren, Joshua Desrosiers and wife Kahlie, Dr. Jessica Desrosiers and husband Ramel Dennis, Andrew Wilkie and wife Molly, Chapin LaBelle and wife Rebekah, Paige Collier, Alyssa and husband Ryan Bell, Richard LaBelle, and Chena and husband Jacob Bean. Great-Grammie LaBelle showed a special love for her great-grandchildren, Jessica Dennis, Elsie Bell, Ander Bell, River Wilkie, Aiden Desrosiers, Nevaeh Dennis, Peri Wilkie, Emilyn Desrosiers, Adaline Bean, Quinn LaBelle, and Warren Bean.

Lois was predeceased by her parents; her great-grandson, Isaiah Hamlin Dennis; and her brother, Alton “Bud” Mosher and his wife, Alice.

The family wishes to extend its sincerest thanks to the staff on Eagle Landing Delta at Maine Veteran’s Home in Augusta for their loving care of Lois in her final months.

Visiting hours will be held on Friday, Aug. 18, 3 to 6 p.m., at Wheeler Funeral Home, 26 Church St. in Oakland. A funeral will be held on Saturday, Aug. 19 at 10 a.m., at Lakes Christian Fellowship Church, 744 Augusta Rd. in Belgrade. Interment to follow at Brookside Cemetery, Wooster Hill Road in Rome.

Donations in Lois’ memory may be made to: Lakes Christian Fellowship Church, P.O. Box 342, Belgrade Lakes, ME 04918; or Town of Rome, Rome Rescue, 8 Mercer Rd., Rome, ME 04963