Lois (Brandl) Ranahan

Lois Ranahan, 82,  formerly of Sea Girt Estates and more recently a resident at Chelsea Assisted Living in Brick, passed away on April 5, 2025  after a brief hospice stay at Complete Care in her beloved Ocean Grove. She is survived by her only son, Patrick and daughter-in-law Megan Ranahan of Sea Girt Estates. Lois was preceded in death by her infant daughter Kelly, her only brother, Benjamin Brandl, formerly of Ocean Grove, and her parents, Benjamin and Mary Brandl.

Lois was raised in Clifton, New Jersey, where she married, lived and worked until fulfilling her dream of retiring to the beach, settling in Sea Girt Estates in 1997.  She had a lifelong love for the shore beginning with summers spent in Long Beach Island at her maternal aunt and uncle's home, and continuing for many years at her brother’s home in Ocean Grove just steps from the boardwalk.

Lois had the enjoyment of seeing some of her favorite performers in Asbury Park including Tina Turner, Sha-Na-Na, The Talking Heads, and Meatloaf at Convention Hall with her son, Patrick.

She had a long and fulfilling career in state government, working as an office manager for the NJ State Parole Bureau for 35 years before retiring early. Afterward, she embarked on a second endeavor as the  office manager at Crystal Point Marina in Brick. Lois maintained a keen interest in the criminal justice system, as an  avid reader of crime and mystery novels and a regular viewer of the Law & Order franchise. While Lois’ main interest in travel was the Travel Channel, she did venture to San Francisco,  Hearst Castle,  Big Sur and California vineyards  as well as historical locations on the Eastern Seaboard. She also had a love and appreciation for great pizza, sampling some of the finest pies in the Tri-State area, from clam pies in New Haven, Connecticut to Trenton's famous tomato pies. However, she always cherished local classics, including Coal Brick Oven, Vic’s and Pete & Eldas.  In recent years her palate expanded to Playa Bowl on her many adventures with our beloved family friend Michelle.

In accordance with her wishes, Lois did not want a viewing, preferring instead to be remembered by the good memories shared with her friends and loved ones. A private family burial will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Saddle Brook, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers please support the American Cancer Society in Lois' memory at donate.cancer.org

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