I admired how Doris always took care to see that things were done properly. She took excellent care of her guests and encouraged her family members to do the same. This meant that if I wanted to have an argument with someone, it had to be with her husband, son or grandson, because Doris wouldn't take the bait. She maintained the social graces as a good example to us all.
Every year, Doris and Andrew figured out ways to make their Christmas decor different and flawless. Prawns and pralines -- all perfect as expected.
She helped family members learn to dress as attractively as she herself did. Since I did not have the benefit of the tutorials, I am still trying to figure out when it is that two black garments clash and when they do not clash with each other.
Even when her health was waning, she still looked beautiful with her clear blue eyes and the window's sunlight streaming through her curly white hair. And at that point Andrew told me she was still very much enjoying hugging and interacting with her great-granddaughter.
Doris' good examples are welded into our psyches and will continue to be followed.
Shara