Loretta "Lori" Ann Efsits

Loretta “Lori” Ann Efsits was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. Lori passed away peacefully on the morning of Monday, April 29, 2024, at the age of 82, surrounded by four generations of her family.

Lori was born to Richard and Ida Sirinek on May 15, 1941. She was talented on the piano and with dress-making, even at an early age. After graduating from Andrew Jackson High School, in Cambria Heights, Queens, New York, she pursued her love of artistic creation at The Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. Her flair for the creative and her love for decorating led her to the Manhattan office of Jens Risom, a Danish furniture designer, and then later to Beeline Fashions, as an in-home fashion consultant. After being a homemaker for a time, she began her career of 17 years as a classified advertising agent at the Long Island newspaper, Newsday.

Lori married Carl Efsits on November 25, 1962, and they moved to East Northport, Long Island, where they raised their two children, Todd and Lisana (Richard). Eventually seven grandchildren were added to the family: Kyrie (Adam), Jordan (Maria), Hannah, Lili (Hayden), Elijah, Gabriel, and Ian. And four great-grandchildren followed: Rayah, Liam, Cullen, and Elliott.

Lori’s world was the kitchen, however, and her favorite thing was to feed everyone. Sometimes literally. Her custom birthday cakes and full course meals are the fond memories of many. Her grandchildren particularly loved the care and detail she would put into even the simplest of meals, like “Pizza Sloppy Joes” or “Hot Dogs around the World.” Her gift with food earned her the ire, and then respect, of the head chef of a very fancy restaurant on Long Island. While eating, the chef’s special entrée of the day, she wrote down the list of ingredients, and rough amounts, on an envelope she pulled from her purse. Once finished, she asked the waiter, dressed in fancy black pants and white jacket, to bring the list to the chef to see if she was correct. The chef stormed out of the kitchen to the table, mad at first, wondering who stole his recipe, then was quickly impressed, and honored, with her ability to taste every ingredient. She later mimicked the dish at home and with much improvement, according to her husband. Cooking was how she best showed her love for the people closest to her.

Lori will be honored with a celebration of her life on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at Open Door Christian Fellowship (51586 County Road 5, Elkhart, IN 46514). Visitation will be from 11:00am-12:00pm, with a memorial service starting at 12:00pm. Flowers are appreciated and can be sent to: c/o Open Door Christian Fellowship, 11401 Anderson Road, Granger, IN 46530. Phone: (574) 276-2281.

Elkhart Cremation Services has been entrusted with her care.

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