Obituary for Lois D. Sommers (Dougherty)
Lois Dougherty Sommers died March 20th at the Winchester Nursing Home. She was the wife of the late George Sommers. Lois was born and raised in New York. She was the daughter of the late Evelyn and Charles Dougherty.
Lois graduated from Queens College at 20 after having skipped 2 years of elementary school. After graduation she was asked to join the “code girls” who worked in Washington during World War 11 breaking the German and Japanese military codes. You can read all about them in a book “The Code Girls”, the untold story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War 11. During this job she lived in housing in Washington, DC with the other code girls. Because she was only 20, she had to stay in the house while the other girls could go out to party. Lois took this position very seriously and for almost 50 years, continued to respect the vow of secrecy that was an oath given to the code girls.
After the war was over Lois declined a position with the Defense Department and returned home to New York. While in New York, Lois met and married George Sommers. George was transferred to the Boston area and the family settled in Arlington, MA. Lois worked for years for New England Telephone Company and later as an assistant at an optometry office, until she retired at age 65.
Lois and George then retired to Cape Cod where they had many good years with family and friends. Lois lived on the Cape until George passed and then she moved to assisted living at Country Club Heights in Woburn to be closer to her family. She enjoyed her time there and made many new friends.
Lois is survived by her daughter, Christine Sommers and partner Bruce Sorris, her sons Michael & George Sommers, her granddaughter Katherine Sommers Page and husband Sean Page, granddaughter Rhianna Sommers and grandson Brian Sorris. She was the great grandmother of Charlotte Page who brought tremendous joy to her last years. She was predeceased by her daughter Patricia Sommers.
Lois Dougherty Sommers was the most loving caring mother we could have asked for. We were so blessed to have had her for so long and we know she is now reunited with her husband George in heaven.
Internment is at the Veterans Cemetery in Bourne, Ma. Services are private.
Lois graduated from Queens College at 20 after having skipped 2 years of elementary school. After graduation she was asked to join the “code girls” who worked in Washington during World War 11 breaking the German and Japanese military codes. You can read all about them in a book “The Code Girls”, the untold story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War 11. During this job she lived in housing in Washington, DC with the other code girls. Because she was only 20, she had to stay in the house while the other girls could go out to party. Lois took this position very seriously and for almost 50 years, continued to respect the vow of secrecy that was an oath given to the code girls.
After the war was over Lois declined a position with the Defense Department and returned home to New York. While in New York, Lois met and married George Sommers. George was transferred to the Boston area and the family settled in Arlington, MA. Lois worked for years for New England Telephone Company and later as an assistant at an optometry office, until she retired at age 65.
Lois and George then retired to Cape Cod where they had many good years with family and friends. Lois lived on the Cape until George passed and then she moved to assisted living at Country Club Heights in Woburn to be closer to her family. She enjoyed her time there and made many new friends.
Lois is survived by her daughter, Christine Sommers and partner Bruce Sorris, her sons Michael & George Sommers, her granddaughter Katherine Sommers Page and husband Sean Page, granddaughter Rhianna Sommers and grandson Brian Sorris. She was the great grandmother of Charlotte Page who brought tremendous joy to her last years. She was predeceased by her daughter Patricia Sommers.
Lois Dougherty Sommers was the most loving caring mother we could have asked for. We were so blessed to have had her for so long and we know she is now reunited with her husband George in heaven.
Internment is at the Veterans Cemetery in Bourne, Ma. Services are private.