Lori (Zeller) Lesutis

Lori “Mama L” Lesutis

1957 - 2024 

Lori Lesutis, also affectionately referred to as “Mama L” by her children and grandchildren, departed her loving family on March 30, 2024, at the age of 67.

She was born on January 4, 1957, to George and Dolores Zeller, taking her place as the second oldest child of what would become a loving set of six.

Her years-long medical battle was fought with profound dignity and fortitude until the last minute of her Earth-bound life. Lori’s unrelenting motivation was spurred by her unyielding faith and love for her family. Her enduring kindness and enthusiasm for living, despite her health struggles, are a true testament to her outstanding character.

After receiving the first of many subsequent life-threatening diagnoses in the last nearly 17 years, she scribbled the following declaration in a notebook that would later prove to be a lifeline: “I am good. I am loved. I feel safe.” Lori’s inspiring passion for powering a life of faith, gratitude, curiosity, and courage was demonstrated time and time again.

When asked about her steadfast drive in the face of such vulnerability, she once shared, “My motivation has always been my faith, my family, my life, and my prayers. I have had a great deal of time to pray. Prayer is powerful. I thank all who have prayed for me. My faith has only grown deeper. I believe in Jesus and feel His arms holding me and keeping me safe.”

As a lifelong educator, Lori was more than a teacher; her boundless impact was packed with not only wicked intelligence and a love for science, but it was also full of compassion, contagious energy, and an unparalleled gift for making every student feel motivated, special, and understood.

She was most proud of being a wife, mother, and grandmother. Our “Mama L” loved to dance (aka “bee-bop”), bake and decorate cookies, and go all-in on family game nights. Summer vacations in Lewes, Delaware, were a time for delighting in romantic, bayside dinner dates with Bob, as well as enjoying sandy beaches, delicious seafood, and poolside fun with her kids and grandkids. 

Lori is predeceased by her brother Tom, mother, Dolores, and father, George; survived by her rock, her loving husband, Bob; her two devoted children, Christa (Mike) and Ryan (Cindy); her extraordinary grandchildren Dylan and Bailey; and her adoring siblings, George, Jack, Jim, and Teresa.

The world is a better place because of her phenomenal capacity to share her light and love — and we encourage all who knew and loved her to carry on her legacy. As we look toward celebrating Lori as the brave, loving, beautiful, amazing, lovely, inspiring woman she was, we wish to share that a Funeral Mass service will be held at St. Andrew’s Church in Drexel Hill, PA on Friday, April 5, 2024, at 11 a.m.

A Memorial Service will follow on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at 6 p.m. at the Ruffenach Funeral Home in Drexel Hill.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Gift of Life Donor Program are welcome to be made in Lori Lesutis’s name.

Gift of Life Donor Program

Since 1974, Gift of Life has worked to coordinate life-saving and life-enhancing transplants for those waiting, while supporting the generous donors and their families who have chosen to give others a second chance through organ donation.

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