Doris Elizabeth Bunker

Doris Elizabeth Bunker. age 83, died at White Plains Hospital in the early evening of Saturday, January 14, 2012, peacefully comatose, surrounded by her husband, her elder daughter, and her daughter's husband.

Born Feb. 22, 1928, at Manhattan Lying-in Hospital to Arthur F. and Erna E. Rundt, she was brought home to their Bathgate Ave. apartment where she spent her infant and toddler years. While living there, at the age of six weeks she overcame pyloric stenosis with the help of surgery.

During 1930, the family moved to their newly-completed permanent home in the hamlet of North White Plains (NWP), Town of North Castle, NY, near the home of her mother's parents, Oswald R. and W. A. Elizabeth Muller.

Doris started school at the NWP Public School on North Broadway. In fourth grade she was having bouts of tonsillitis which resulted in tonsillectomy.

Her next school was Columbus Ave. Middle School in Valhalla, NY. While at this school she contracted rheumatic fever which resulted in a permanent heart murmur.

Her last public school was Pleasantville High School, Pleasantville, NY, from which she graduated with the Class of 1946. Doris then matriculated at New Paltz State Teachers' College, New Paltz, NY (now SUNY New Paltz). Upon completion of her course work, she graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education.

Through Doris' childhood she attended Sunday school at St. Matthews Evangelical Lutheran Church in White Plains. Subsequently she completed the confirmation class of her pastor, The Reverend Carl F. W. Strobel.

During the Christmas,1949 through New Years,1950 Holidays, Doris and her childhood playmate and schoolmate, Geraldine Moench, along with two other girls, went to North Conway, NH, on vacation and for "Gerry" to see her friend, Alden Rabethge, the young hotel manager of The Presidential Inn in Conway, whom she had met on days off as a Camp Allegro counselor.

At The Presidential Inn's New Year's Eve party Gerry and Alden introduced Doris and Harry to each other for what turned out to be the beginning of their lives together.

1950 spring vacation for Doris and Gerry was spent in North Conway. After their return to New York, Doris interviewed for and was accepted as arts and crafts counselor at Camp Allegro.

Doris was courted by Harry as often as they could get together during leisure time. Harry introduced Doris to his parents very soon and to his friends and acquaintances. Harry also showed to Doris the beautiful resort country of New Hampshire's White Mountains.

After summer camp, Doris and Gerry returned home to their teaching duties.
Doris and Harry kept in contact by mail with non-stop exchange of letters. In November, Doris invited Harry to her family's home for Thanksgiving weekend.

Harry's arrival turned into his permanent move to New York. Doris and Harry couldn't bear to be separated again, so Harry moved into a rented room, found a job, and continued their relationship.

Doris accepted Harry's engagement ring in July, 1951, and plans were started for their wedding. During the following months Doris' grandmother, whose home was next door to her mother's (and father's) home lost a tenant from one of her one-room apartments. Doris immediately took Harry to her grandmother who accepted Harry as her new tenant.

Following their wedding plans, on Saturday, August 2, 1952, Doris and Harry were united in Holy Matrimony in the presence of families, relatives, friends, and guests by The Reverend Carl F. W. Strobel at St. Matthews Evangelical Lutheran Church in White Plains.

Doris now joined her new husband in her grandmother's house which subsequently was passed on to her mother and, in succession, to Doris.

Doris' teaching in Thornwood Elementary School started her professional experience with the second grade students. It also was a beneficial income supplement, and, as life improved with income, the couple got their first car.

Doris presented to Harry a lovely baby girl to whom they gave the names Heidi Lais. A baby sister joined the family and was named Mitzi Lisa . These two girls made it a family of four.

Heidi gave Stephen Eschweiler her hand in marriage. Heidi's sister, Mitzi, gave her hand in marriage to Allen Chan, they have two children, Clara and Tobias.

Survivors include Doris' husband of 59 years and five months as well as the above-named daughters, their husbands, and her two grandchildren, her sister Anita, various nieces and nephews

Doris was preceded in death by her parents and all family members of her parents' generation, by Gerry Moench and Alden Rabethge, and by most members of her and Harry's wedding party excepting her sister and Harry's brother Briggs

Funeral Service will be held at Ballard-Durand, 2 Maple Avenue at 4PM following visitation on January 28, 2012. Cremation to follow.

Please send any donations to Hospice and Palliative of Westchester in memory of Doris Bunker.