Doris May Lorelli

Doris May (Ploran) Lorelli Camarillo, CA August 8, 1925 – October 20, 2011 Age 86 Character, Wife, Mother, Grammie, our best friend- Our mom was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey to John and Josephine Ploran. She grew up a child of the Great Depression, years that made a great impression on her. She graduated from high school in 1942, the country then in the second year of WWII. In 1943, she met our dad, a dashing figure in the uniform of what was then the Army Air Force and home on leave from the South Pacific. He was so smitten by her auburn haired beauty that he told a friend, “There’s the girl I am going to marry.” And so he did in September 1945 on his return from Europe. True to their vows, she was with him through thick and thin until his death in July 1999. In that long journey, they produced six children, John - Ventura, Sylvia - Seattle, David (Christine) - Carpinteria, Ernie (Christine) - Las Vegas, Mary Frances (Michael) - Camarillo, and Chris (Regina) - Camarillo. It was a sometimes bumpy road as our dad was career air force so we moved a lot and always had more children with us every time we transferred. Mom raised her family in Massachusetts, New Mexico, Iowa, Germany and California. “Dutchie,” the nickname given to her by her brothers-in-law, and which stuck throughout her life, was the rock and center- of- gravity in the marriage. She was the one who made sure we had manners, that our hair was combed, our shoes tied and “…you aren’t going out of this house looking like THAT!!” We were expected to clean our plates, the Depression years having made her aware of what being hungry was like, and when we didn’t like something, we were often reminded that there were children all over the world with less to eat than what we wanted to turn down. Mom made sure we had no doubt about the difference between what was right and what was wrong and going to Sunday Mass was not a voluntary matter. We always knew where we stood with her and should she call us by both our first and middle names, we knew it wasn’t on her good side. It was a different time then and all of us learned that she could wield a wicked switch if we transgressed too far. We moved to Camarillo in 1959 and with dad’s retirement from the air force in 1962, the once small town became our permanent family home. Mom loved to read and until her passing, there was always a book open somewhere in the house. She took every opportunity she had to travel after dad’s retirement and particularly enjoyed her visits to Hawaii. She was also a quite active volunteer in St Mary Magdelene parish and was an avid member of the parish sewing circle. Her Bible study group had to come to her in her later years and the penny-ante card games with her “gambling girls” that followed were always great fun. She loved a good joke and when she laughed, her mirth was infectious. As her children moved away, married, and began presenting her with grandchildren, she couldn’t have been happier than in her new role as Grammie Doris. She was a central figure in the lives of her grandchildren, especially those lucky enough to live in Camarillo. She loved their company; her love for them was full and unconditional, and the refrigerator was always open. After our dad passed, mom would joke with us that since he was six years older, she would wait six years before she joined him. We were fortunate that she waited twelve years. Age and various debilities robbed her of her mobility but her mind stayed sharp and her quick wit lasted into her final hours. She passed into the arms of the Lord she faithfully worshiped surrounded by all of her children, three of their spouses, six of her thirteen grandchildren, and several other relatives. No matter what, and there was a lot of “what” over the years, she was not only our mom, but our trusted confidant, our friend, was always ready to hear a good joke and the refrigerator was still open. There is an old poem that includes these lines: I always knew this day would come, but little did I know it would be today. Today has come and we will all miss her terribly. The family particularly wishes to thank Tom, Helen, Sherill, and Margarita of Assisted Home Hospice for their many kindnesses and considerations to our mom in her last months. It was very difficult for her to surrender her privacy to such a degree but they made it virtually painless. We also wish to thank the wonderful 2nd floor nursing staff at Pleasant Valley Hospital. We often read of uncaring nurses but everyone involved in mom’s final care epitomized all the best things one would expect from nurses. Their care and compassion was evident. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Little Sisters of the Poor at www.littlesistersofthepoor.org