Obituary for Doris E. Roeder
Doris E Roeder Sterling, formerly of Gladwin & Pinconning, Michigan
Doris E Roeder, 77, passed away Friday, August 4, 2017 at Medilodge Nursing Home of Sterling with loved ones by her side.
Doris enjoyed Classic Country music, dancing, a rum and Coke once in a while and her cigarettes! She also was fond of small children and large dogs. Doris loved listening to the Detroit Tigers on the radio, she was a devoted fan even if they were losing! She was very good at knitting and crocheting and made some beautiful items. In spite of her blindness she raised three children and cared for countless other children and grandchildren. Doris was an avid reader and loved a good romance novel. She learned to read braille and met the late Gerald F. Roeder at the Kalamazoo School for the Blind when she was his reading tutor. They came back to live in his home town of Bentley and later married. As they got older they decided to move to Gladwin since neither one could drive due to their handicap. They continued to live there and were involved in several social groups until the death of Gerald in 1999. She then moved to Nebraska to live with her sister Arlyce for a while but was homesick so she returned to Michigan to live near one of her step daughters. She kept her own apartment in Pinconning until a stroke put her in a nursing home. Un-daunted she worked hard to recover and returned to the same apartment complex a couple of years later. Unfortunately Parkinson’s disease made her decide to return to the nursing home. While residing there for the remainder of her life, the staff grew to love her wit and stubbornness! It was questionable as to who was in charge! She never bent to anyone’s will and remained as independent as possible considering her circumstances. .
Doris is survived by her children, Jerry Thurston of Sarasota, Florida, Donna (James) Maxey of South Bend, Indiana, and Thomas (Beth) Thurston of Elkhart, Indiana, 4 Stepchildren Alan (Marilyn) Roeder of Manitou Beach, Michigan, Koleen Roeder of Whitefish, Montana, Laura (Roger) Timmons of Show Low, Arizona and Denise Morse of Rhodes, Michigan, 21 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, her brother David (Sheryl) Mays and two sisters Evelyn (Lee) Dawursk and Helen Hege, and several nieces and nephews, Besides her husband, Doris was preceded in death by her parents Lloyd and Frances Mays, a grandson Nathaniel Lauria, her brother Donald Mays and her sister Arlyce Hanson.
According to Doris’ wishes cremation has taken place. A private Memorial Service will be planned at a later date. Her family would like to extend a Special Thank You to the staff at Medilodge of Sterling and Heartland Hospice of West Branch for the care they gave Doris. Arrangements have been entrusted to Sisson Funeral Home, Gladwin, Michigan.
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Doris E Roeder, 77, passed away Friday, August 4, 2017 at Medilodge Nursing Home of Sterling with loved ones by her side.
Doris enjoyed Classic Country music, dancing, a rum and Coke once in a while and her cigarettes! She also was fond of small children and large dogs. Doris loved listening to the Detroit Tigers on the radio, she was a devoted fan even if they were losing! She was very good at knitting and crocheting and made some beautiful items. In spite of her blindness she raised three children and cared for countless other children and grandchildren. Doris was an avid reader and loved a good romance novel. She learned to read braille and met the late Gerald F. Roeder at the Kalamazoo School for the Blind when she was his reading tutor. They came back to live in his home town of Bentley and later married. As they got older they decided to move to Gladwin since neither one could drive due to their handicap. They continued to live there and were involved in several social groups until the death of Gerald in 1999. She then moved to Nebraska to live with her sister Arlyce for a while but was homesick so she returned to Michigan to live near one of her step daughters. She kept her own apartment in Pinconning until a stroke put her in a nursing home. Un-daunted she worked hard to recover and returned to the same apartment complex a couple of years later. Unfortunately Parkinson’s disease made her decide to return to the nursing home. While residing there for the remainder of her life, the staff grew to love her wit and stubbornness! It was questionable as to who was in charge! She never bent to anyone’s will and remained as independent as possible considering her circumstances. .
Doris is survived by her children, Jerry Thurston of Sarasota, Florida, Donna (James) Maxey of South Bend, Indiana, and Thomas (Beth) Thurston of Elkhart, Indiana, 4 Stepchildren Alan (Marilyn) Roeder of Manitou Beach, Michigan, Koleen Roeder of Whitefish, Montana, Laura (Roger) Timmons of Show Low, Arizona and Denise Morse of Rhodes, Michigan, 21 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, her brother David (Sheryl) Mays and two sisters Evelyn (Lee) Dawursk and Helen Hege, and several nieces and nephews, Besides her husband, Doris was preceded in death by her parents Lloyd and Frances Mays, a grandson Nathaniel Lauria, her brother Donald Mays and her sister Arlyce Hanson.
According to Doris’ wishes cremation has taken place. A private Memorial Service will be planned at a later date. Her family would like to extend a Special Thank You to the staff at Medilodge of Sterling and Heartland Hospice of West Branch for the care they gave Doris. Arrangements have been entrusted to Sisson Funeral Home, Gladwin, Michigan.
Events
Event Information
Services will be set for a future date to be determined.
Cemetery Details
Location
Sunset Valley Crematory
210 AuSable
Bay City, MI 48706
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