Lola Elizabeth Basos, age 101 years old, passed away at home with her daughter, Marena and dear friend, Rose, by her side on January 15, 2021. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, John Daniel Basos, by a brother, five sisters and her son-in-law, William Gonz.
She is survived by her daughter, Marena Gonz of Binghamton, her son and daughter-in-law, John and Virginia Sauer-Basos of Lafayette, CA; her grandson, Michael Alexander Basos of Lafayette, CA; special several nieces and nephews, and many dear friends, especially at Riverside Towers.
Lola enjoyed being a stay-at-home wife and mother until her husband died in 1963. She then took over her husband's insurance business, The Basos Insurance Agency, and worked as a licensed insurance broker for the next twenty-five years in Binghamton. She grew and maintained her business in a "man's world" by delivering insurance policies to each of her customers in person to get to know them as people.
She was a member of the Zonta Club, the Business and Professional Women's Club, the Eastern Star, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Trinity Memorial Church where she served as a member of the Altar Guild. She also served as a volunteer at Lourdes Hospital.
Lola enjoyed antiquing and was a talented quilter for over fifty years. She sewed each quilt by hand as she learned to do from her mother as she grew up in Arkansas. In her retirement years, she became an avid golfer and was a member of several golf leagues where she won many tournaments. She also enjoyed travelling. She and Marena would take a mother/daughter trip each summer. Her most favorite trip was the trip they took to Paris, France, but she also loved going to Hawaii, Acapulco, Montreal, the Grand Tetons, British Columbia, and many of the United States. Another memorable trip was one she took driving across the country.
After she retired, Lola spent summers in Binghamton and winters at Leisure World, a retirement community, in Mesa, AZ. There she enjoyed golfing, walking, the companionship of many good friends, and many cultural activities. She had a fantastic sense of humor and lived life to the fullest! She was quite UNFORGETTABLE, and her strength and bravery were noteworthy. She faced challenges with grace and dignity and was a role model for those who knew her.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Hong Yu of Riverside Medical for taking exceptional care of Lola ensuring that she lived to be a centenarian. The family also wishes to give special thanks to those who provided loving and compassionate care at her home during the last two years of her life: Vinny, her hairdresser, and aides: Rose, Lisa, Stephanie, Helen, Susan and nurse, Mary Ellen.
A private funeral service will be held on Friday at 11am at the Chopyak-Scheider Funeral Home, 326 Prospect Street, Binghamton with Rev. Glenn Mahaffey officiating. Burial will follow at Vestal Hills Memorial Park Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Lola's memory be made to either CHOW at Broome County Council of Churches, 3 Otsiningo St. Binghamton, NY 13903, Lourdes Hospice Program at 4102 Old Vestal Road, Vestal, NY 13850 or to Trinity Memorial Church, 44 Main St. Binghamton, NY 13905.
Kindly share your reflections of Lola on her guestbook at Chopyak-Scheider.com.
A link to livestreaming Lola's 11am service on Friday will be posted at Chopyak-Scheider.com at 9am that morning.