Lois Marie (Sullivan) McWalter, 83, of Concord, formerly of Lexington and longtime summer resident of West Dennis, died on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at home with her children by her side. She was the wife of the late Richard M. McWalter who died in 1972. She was born in Arlington on November 3, 1933, the daughter of the late John J. and Helen T. (George) Sullivan. A 1951 graduate from Lexington High School, she furthered her studies at Regis College in Weston, earning an undergraduate degree in Sociology and Psychology. In 1960, she completed her Master's in Education from the State Teacher's College in Boston. Mrs. McWalter became a Concord resident in 1961 after marrying her beloved husband, Richard. A dedicated educator, she was a special needs teacher at Woburn Public Schools, taught third grade in Lexington, and was employed by the Concord Public School system as a special needs educator until her retirement. Her professional memberships included the Massachusetts Teacher's Association and the National Educator's Association. Lois was a devout Catholic and often credited her faith for her strength. She was a longtime communicant at the former Our Lady Help of Christians Parish in Concord where she taught CCD classes, served on the Parish Council, and acted as a Eucharistic Minister. Along with Fr. Richard DeVeer, she started a young widow's group after losing her husband. Her work in the group gained national attention when Lois was featured in Time Magazine. She profoundly enjoyed her summers on Cape Cod and was an amazing mother and grammy. Lois was a lover of animals and people, and her home was always open to anyone in need of help. She is survived by her son, Richard M. McWalter of Concord, her daughters, Kathleen Bedrosian and her husband David of Northborough and Diane Ciampi and her husband Douglas of Westminster, three grandchildren, Madalyn Rose Ciampi, Douglas J. Ciampi Jr., and Samuel Bedrosian, her sister, Jean Winchester and her husband Charles of Lexington, brothers-in-law John Jack McWalter and Robert McWalter, both of Concord, her sister-in-law Grace McWalter of Lunenburg, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was the mother of the late Edward M. McWalter who died in 1978, sister-in-law of the late David McWalter who died in May 2017, aunt of the late Susan McWalter who died in February 2017 and sister-in-law of the late Shirley McWalter. Family and friends will gather for visiting hours on Friday, June 30th from 4 to 8 pm in the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center. Her funeral will be held on Saturday, July 1st at 9 am from the Dee Funeral Home, followed by a funeral Mass at 10 am in Holy Family Parish, Monument Square, Concord Center. Burial will follow at St. Bernard's Cemetery in Concord. Contributions in her memory may be made to Buddy Dog Humane Society, Inc., 151 Boston Post Rd., Sudbury, MA 01776 (www.buddydoghs.com). Arrangements are under the care of the Dee Funeral Home of Concord.