May 28, 2020. Doris is predeceased by her husband, George Montgomery; daughter, Carol Montgomery-Pappert son-in-law, Ronald Van Stean. She is survived by her daughters, Christine Van Stean Doris "Rennie" Hovey; grandchildren, Sheri (Craig) Michelsen, Scott Hovey, Steven (Catarina) Hovey, Andy (Paula) Pappert, Jeff (Alyssa) Pappert Lindsay (Adam) Bradstreet; 11 great-grandchildren; sister, Margaret (Bob) Pye; several nieces, nephews, cousins dear friends. Special thanks to the wonderful caregivers: Jamie, Shohna Evelyn. DORIS'S FAMILY IS REQUIRING ALL GUESTS UPON ENTERING THE FUNERAL HOME TO WEAR FACE MASKS AND USE HAND SANITIZER. THANK YOU. Doris's life story will be shared during her visitation, Sunday, June 7th 1-5 PM at the funeral home, 1411 Vintage Lane, (Between 390 Long Pond Rd.) Click here to reserve your visitation time with Doris's family. Her Funeral Service will be live streamed, Monday, June 8th, 10 AM, click this link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9853868613 Her burial in Parma Union Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to UR Medicine Home Care, 2180 Empire Blvd., Webster, NY 14580 or to Rochester Theater Organ Society, 11 Bly St., Rochester, NY 14620 in Doris' memory. Click here to sign Doris's virtual register book Doris Montgomery's - Life Story 1925-1946 Doris was born in Birmingham England in 1925. She had a great mom, but lost her father at an early age. She had 2 brothers and a sister. One brother (Malky) and her sister (Margaret) were 12 to14 years younger than Doris. At that time children left school at 14 to work at an early age. Her teen years were framed by World War two. She spent her days working and nights in bomb shelters helping to care for her younger brother and sister. Her bomb shelters were hit twice as was her rented house which was completely destroyed. Her husband George was a US soldier who won her heart and asked her to marry him and come home to Rochester. They were married in England on June 9, 1945 just after VE Day. (Tuesday June 9 would be their 75th anniversary). George was shipped home soon after and Doris was finally able to come to the US in April 1946 leaving her beloved family and bravely traveling alone to her new life. She discovered her accent was a problem - it was English but no one could understand her. She had to have a neighbor write down what she wanted, then carry it with her to stores because her writing was small and looping. 1946 - 1995 Doris and George had three children: Christine, Carol and Irene. Doris was very busy taking care of three children and George who was severely injured in a fall off a roof in 1949 and he fell again in 1951. Fortunately George was able to return to work and formed his own roofing business. They moved to Spencerport Rd in 1955 and to Elmgrove Road in 1965, purchasing an abandoned vacant 1 acre farm house that had to be emptied and completely gutted. Their "hobby" was renovating that house, Doris working side by side with George, and the three girls worked along with them doing whatever was needed. At one point the barn was being cleaned out and hay was thrown from the upper story. Doris picked up a fork full and discovered a swarm of bees. Picture her running through the acre trying to outpace the swarm of bees. Doris created a huge garden and canned tomatoes, chili sauce, tomato sauce, pickles, jam and peaches. At the same time they purchased the farm house they also purchased a cottage at Keuka Lake. This too needed major work. The family and boyfriends/husbands built the wall, created a lawn, renovated the inside and outside, built a bathroom and built a boat house. Doris discovered that the boyfriends and husbands doubled the amount of food she needed to make to feed all the hungry workers. Soon the neighbors found the hospitality and friendship of the family and enjoyed snacks and meals Doris created. She never sat down. Doris supported George's business by answering the phone and keeping records. She always rode with him on sales calls and waited patiently in the car. Carol and Irene's families lived nearby. As the grandchildren arrived she enjoyed babysitting them. Every morning she sat at the counter in her robe with rollers in her hair and a cup of tea in her hand and waved at the grandchildren's school buses and all the kids on the bus as they rode by. When George started having medical problems she became a caregiver, assisting him after several operations. After he retired they spent several winter months in Florida, staying in a variety of campers/mobile homes. She really missed the family in those months. When Andy, Jeff and Lindsay were born they devoted many hours to caring for them. Doris loved the all the grandchildren and great children. The family played a wild card game of solitaire. It started when the three girls decided double solitaire with one of them sitting out didn't work. All three played at one time - and had so much fun George and Doris joined them. As the boyfriends and husbands joined there would easily be 8 people playing on the same aces. As grandchildren and friends joined it could be even more. Doris could be heard saying "watch my teeth" as someone came flying across the floor toward her. Doris was known for providing meals for everyone on a moment's notice - there would be a full spread on the table. She enjoyed feeding everyone - family and friends. Home was always full of family, extended family, and friends became adopted family. Sunday became family dinner - for family and friends. People were adopted by the family and included in holidays and special occasions including Chris' godparents, Chris' college roommate Gail, cottage neighbors the Schaeffers and Coddingtons and Elmgrove Road neighbors the Burkeys and Van Aukens. 1995 - 2014 George passed away in 1995. Doris continued to live on the "farm". She continued to garden and cook for the family. Sunday remained family dinner, and everyone came, included guests. The family continued to enjoy the cottage. With the difficult loss of her daughter Carol at age 50, Doris became a major figure in the life of Carol's children, Andy, Jeff Lindsay (ages 20-12). Doris enjoyed 15 cruises traveling with Chris and Ron, after conquering her fear of ships after being sick the whole cruise as a warbride. The ship staff loved her, reminding them of family they left home. The waiters would bring her the next day's menu so she could special order food without sauces or spices - and of course, absolutely no garlic. They would meet her at the dining room door and wheel her to her table. She was timidly adventurous- willing to go in the water at Sting Ray City in Grand Caymen and participate in a family picture holding a sting ray (she hated the water!). In Florida she held a small alligator (mouth taped) after it was passed to her. In Mexico she rode on a board on the front of the bike pedaled by a man maneuvering through traffic from 3 directions - it was the transportation the guide provided her to get back to the port. She would sit on the edge of the pool and greet people as they were getting in - never getting in the water herself. She and Chris also had a memorable trip traveling through England and Scotland on a train with a Britrail pass, deciding where to go the next day the night before. Lindsay would pick up Grandma then drive around picking up all her girlfriends and go to Taco Bell or the mall. Grandma would be the licensed driver and Lindsay had a permit. Grandma and the teenagers loved it. Doris continued to love to cook and feed people. Everyone was invited to join family meals and celebrations. People were introduced to her favorite cream cheese and olive sandwiches. Garlic was absolutely never used. Other than spaghetti sauce, gravy was the only sauce ever used. Potatoes were always served. When Andy first started working in his career he would come home late in the evening, Doris always had dinner ready for him - no matter how late. Everything came with butter on it, and cottage cheese with French dressing on it. She made spaghetti sauce from scratch, but never tested or ate it. Andy and Steve would call for lunch reservations when they were summer window cleaners -a large spread of food was available on the table as they arrived to fortify them for the rest of the day. The grandchildren would call to find out what she was making for dinner and decide who had the best dinner to go to. The phrase "hold your hair" became the family joke when Irene would put up Doris' hood before outings to the craft shows - where they spent the whole day. She became known to all the vendors as she would purchase handmade gifts for presents for the family. In later years they did it with her in the wheel chair. She would also wear a furry hat the family teased her about - calling it her "Gucci" hat. It became old and matted - but she still wore it. Doris and Irene would go to OTB for the horse races and became friends with people there. She would place her $5 bet. She would always "win" a T-shirt within minutes of arriving. Irene also took her to Las Vegas once where they gambled all night winning a pile of money - then lost it all when the dealer changed. Doris told Irene never to tell anyone they gambled all night! 2014 - 2020 Doris moved in with Chris in 2014. They loved going out to lunch every Friday -she loved French fries but finding a place without garlic French fries was a problem. They usually went to Riccis, where her favorite waitress, Gay, was nearly as old as Doris. She loved going on rides and would patiently sit in the car if she couldn't walk around the store. She would say if you see something good on sale buy it for me - which always meant if you find something for me to give to someone get it. Together Chris and Doris enjoyed going to get strawberries and raspberries and making jam. Doris loved jam breads. She loved being able to pass the jam on to the grandchildren. Family dinner continued at Chris' house. Doris continued to love potatoes. Chris bought 100 pounds of potatoes each fall and made mashed or baked potatoes all the time. Doris loved potato soup and that became one of the few things she would eat as her appetite decreased. Doris would often get facts confused as she got older. After relaying information she heard to another family member that family member would have to call someone else to check what really happened. It made for some amusing stories! Doris was a favorite person for all the people she met through Chris' quilt group. She was affectionately called mom or grandma. She was warmly greeted by Chris' high school lunch group and was joined by another mother who was also a warbride. They enjoyed each other and shared the same pickiness for eating! The Theater Organ Society Board met at Chris' house over the last several years and Doris served as greeter as they arrived. Each group has expressed how much they enjoyed knowing her and receiving her genuinely warm smile for everyone. She was a "ray of sunshine and always cheerful." For the past year Doris was lovingly cared for with the wonderful assistance of aides Jamie, Shohana, Evelyn and Rennie. They loved her happy demeanor and smile. Her frequent reply to care was "lovely". When asked if she had any problems or health issues her answer was no, followed by "I'm spoiled". She never complained - just smiled. She was an absolute joy to be with.