Submitted by: Dan Rich
Doris S. Risler
South Bend Tribune
6/6/2007
SOUTH BEND - Doris S. Risler, 83, of Saint Paul's
Retirement Community, died Friday evening, May 25, 2007, in her
residence. Her son, Rex, and husband, Dr. Walt P. Risler,
preceded her in death. Surviving are daughters, Amy (Mark) Alley
of Warsaw and Noel Stewart of Worcester, MA; sons, Walt P.
Risler Jr. and Matthew Risler, both of South Bend, and Daniel
(Rose) Risler of Austin, TX; seven grandchildren and a
great-grandchild. Private family services will be held. She was
born in Metuchen, NJ. Doris received her bachelor's degree from
Upsala College in New Jersey and, after moving to the South Bend
area, received her master's degree in sociology from the
University of Notre Dame.
Doris served her
country in World War II in the Army. She was married to her
college sweetheart, Walt, in the early 50s. While Walt was
working on his doctorate from the University of Chicago they
moved to South Bend and started their careers. Doris and Walt
were the only husband and wife probation officers to run Parkview
Detention Center for St. Joseph County in the early 60s. Doris
also taught sociology at Notre Dame and volunteered her talents
as a counselor for many years. Besides raising a family of six,
Mom was an avid reader, needlepoint and knitting expert, nature
lover, counselor, expert bridge player, a devoted and loving
mother and grandmother, and a very close and dear friend to so
many people. She was always there when you needed her most; she
rocked us to sleep when we were babies, soothed our bumps and
bruises, hauled us back and forth to after-school activities, let
us borrow her car, did not hesitate to use the wooden spoon when
we misbehaved, cheered us on when we graduated, and always had
time to listen to our every-day problems and issues. Her love
never wavered, was never conditional, and her exceptional love
will never be replaced by anyone in our lifetimes.
We miss her dearly,
and with her passing there is a piece of our hearts and souls
that will never heal. Memorial contributions may be made to The
Dr. Walt P. Risler Scholarship Fund, C/O IUSB, P.O. BOX 7111,
1700 MISHAWAKA AVE., SOUTH BEND, IN 46634.