In every family tree, there’s often someone whose spirit quietly knits everyone together — someone whose warmth and resilience become a reference point for what family truly means. For the family of Lois June Gouwens, she is that anchor. Born on February 14, 1928, in South Holland, Illinois, Lois lived a life that was both ordinary and extraordinary in the same breath. Her story may not have made headlines in her lifetime, but her legacy echoes today in the lives and values of her children and grandchildren — a gentle testament to the power of family bonds, steadfast love, and an unwavering sense of care for others.
Early Days in the Heartland
Lois June Gouwens began life surrounded by the familiar rhythms of Midwestern family life. South Holland, Illinois, in the late 1920s was a place where neighbors knew each other’s names, families gathered every Sunday, and church bells marked time for a tight-knit community. For Lois, this was the canvas on which her early years were painted — simple days filled with warmth, homemade meals, and lessons in kindness and hard work.
Her childhood home, likely bustling with the energy of extended family dropping by unannounced and kids playing in open yards, shaped her gentle but determined spirit. Neighbors still speak of families like the Gouwens, who embodied the quiet strength of the Midwest — people who believed that family was not just important; it was everything.
A Strong Heritage Rooted in Dutch Traditions
One part of Lois’s life she held close was her Dutch heritage. The customs and values passed down from her ancestors were more than just background — they were woven into daily life. From traditional family recipes to the way holidays were celebrated, her heritage reminded her to cherish hard work, resilience, and loyalty.
Lois’s mother, Virginia, played a central role in keeping these traditions alive. It’s often said that we learn how to love by watching our mothers, and Virginia’s nurturing spirit was reflected in the way Lois later raised her own children. The sense of continuity, of family threads binding generation to generation, was something Lois never took for granted.
Young Love and New Beginnings
In 1949, at the age of 20, Lois took a big step into a new chapter by marrying Rolland F. Bertrand. Like many young couples of that time, their dreams were modest but deeply meaningful: build a home, raise a family, and stand by each other through life’s inevitable ups and downs.
Together they welcomed three children — Marcheline, Raleigh, and Debbie. Each child brought new joys, small adventures, and everyday challenges that Lois handled with a calm, steady love. She was the type of mother who remembered birthdays with homemade cakes, soothed scraped knees with gentle hands, and made sure every child felt seen and valued. In her world, no one ever doubted how deeply they were loved.
Building a Life in Illinois
Home for Lois and her young family was not just one place but a handful of towns that each added something special to their journey. From Riverdale to Blue Island, they made new friends, grew roots in local churches, and built memories that would last long after boxes were packed and the moving truck pulled away.
Wherever they settled, Lois found ways to weave her family into the fabric of the neighborhood — from PTA meetings to church socials to helping a neighbor in need. Community wasn’t just a word for Lois; it was a way of living.
California Dreaming — A Big Move and a Fresh Start
At some point, life called Lois and her family westward. Trading the familiar plains of Illinois for the sunshine and energy of California, they settled in Beverly Hills. The move wasn’t just about geography; it was a testament to Lois’s quiet courage. Starting over in a new place isn’t easy for any family, but Lois handled it with grace, adapting to new surroundings while keeping her family grounded.
California brought different scenery, but the core of Lois’s life stayed the same: her family was her world. She stayed steady through the adjustments, building new routines, making new friends, and ensuring her children still felt the same sense of love and belonging that marked their Midwest days.
Facing Life’s Toughest Challenge
No life story is without its trials, and for Lois, the greatest came in the form of a devastating health battle. Diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she faced the disease with the same quiet resilience that had defined her whole life. Those who knew her during this time remember her courage — how even in pain, she offered comfort to her family, worried more about them than herself, and held on to hope as long as she could.
On November 11, 1973, Lois June Gouwens passed away at just 45 years old. Her loss left an ache that never fully went away for those who loved her. But her spirit didn’t vanish with her passing — it settled deeply into the hearts of her children and grandchildren.
Her Legacy Lives On
One of the most powerful parts of Lois’s story is how her influence continued long after she was gone. Her daughter, Marcheline Bertrand, carried forward her mother’s love and resilience, passing it down to her own children — one of whom you likely know well: Angelina Jolie.
Through Angelina and her siblings, Lois’s values — family first, compassion for others, the strength to face hardship with dignity — ripple out into the world. It’s a reminder that the quiet ways we love and care for our families have a reach we might never fully see in our lifetime.
Lessons from Lois
The beauty of Lois’s life is that she didn’t need fame or fortune to make an impact. Her legacy is written in the small things — the warm meals, the bedtime stories, the calm presence during storms big and small. She taught her family that love isn’t loud but steady, that resilience doesn’t always roar but sometimes whispers, You can do this.
She showed that true strength is not about standing alone but about holding your people close, lifting them up when they stumble, and leaving them with the tools to carry your love forward when you’re gone.
A Final Thought for Today
If Lois June Gouwens’s story leaves us with anything, it’s this: Family is our first home. It shapes who we are, how we love, and what we stand for. Lois’s life reminds us to slow down, gather close, and keep our roots strong, no matter where life takes us.
To anyone reading this — whether you’re a mom yourself, missing a mom, or simply reflecting on the people who shaped you — may her story inspire you to cherish the everyday moments that become your true legacy.
Here’s to Lois — a quiet force of love, a keeper of traditions, and proof that a life lived with family at its heart will always echo through generations to come.