Doris Bryant- In Memory
Our much loved Mom and Nan, Doris, peacefully passed away on Saturday 21st November 2020.
As many of you know, we’ve had a pretty tough year. Doris was in hospital for 3 months over the summer, with no contact with us whatsoever. As you can imagine, this was extremely distressing for the whole family and for her. However, she was so strong and determined to get home! She got herself through two brain operations and rehab, and eventually came home a day before her 89th birthday in August.
These incredibly stressful 3 months gave us an absolutely fantastic final three and a half months with her. She was happy, laughing, knitting, walking and even hoovering! She was genuinely enjoying life again! She was smiling right up until the end – and for this, we are all eternally grateful.
To celebrate Doris’ life we are planning a humdinger of a party next year when friends and family will be welcomed with open arms, hugs, kisses, tears and laughter! So keep an eye out for invitations!
Due to the current situation, we can’t do this yet. So in line with Doris’ wishes, as she didn’t want a service at the crematorium, we are having a very simple gathering at the complex where Doris lived, spent her last years, and absolutely loved. This way, as a family, we and her neighbours can say a quiet goodbye before taking Doris’s ashes to rest with her much loved husband Bill.
If you are local, and feel a real need to be there at the complex, please let us know and we will advise on details.
However, we dont want to have to ‘choose’ who can join us. We want everyone to be there, but it’s difficult to travel and gather at the minute and we need people to be safe.
So instead, we ask you to spend a quiet minute with your thoughts of Doris and raise a glass/cup of tea at 10:30am on Wednesday 16th December when we will be giving her a huge round of applause. We feel that this way, everyone, wherever they are, can pay their respects to a most wonderful and much loved lady. Imagine…people from all parts of the country and the world actually all thinking about Doris at the same time…what a connection…she would be so proud and humbled. So even though we wont see you in person, in spirit we will be so together.
And next year… stand by… that will be the real celebration!
Stay safe and thank you so much for being part of Doris’ life 💚
Please see the slideshow below for some of our favourite photos of Doris.
Donations in memory
Doris loved feeding the complex’s resident fox who visited every evening. She cared so much, that she even noticed and treated his Mange by putting the treatment in the fox’s favourite – a jam sandwich! If anyone would like to donate anything in Doris’ memory, we’d really appreciate you choosing between The National Fox Welfare Society and Shine – a charity providing specialist advice and support for hydrocephalus across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
To donate to Shine, use the below link:
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/shinesvirtualbucket
To donate to the National Fox Welfare Society, click the link below, then the ‘Donate’ button:
https://www.national-fox-welfare.com/
Finally, please please please send us your memories of Doris using the below form!
11 Comments
Submit a Comment
I have lots of memories of Auntie Dos, she knitted me a fantastic sweater with a matching snood that was so trendy and warm! I also remember spending a lot of time at her home in Kingstanding with her, she showed me that you dont need to be blood to be family she was so caring, I remember taking the mad dog Jake out for walks! RIP Auntie Dos you will be truly missed by many xxx
I feel so proud and honoured to have had the chance to get to know my great aunt over the last few years, she was an absolute legend. She was funny, loving , creative and so warm and bubbly. I will habe a cuppa tea and slice of victoria sponge on wednesday morning, love to all our family xxx
My earliest memory of Auntie Doris was her with Nanny Daisy drinking tea made with sterilized milk and bringing Nan her No6 cigarettes! She was lovely to me, very kind and warm always happy 😊
Doris became my neighbour 7 yrs ago, my son decorated her flat , but little did I know she was about to adopt me 🤣 , Doris was the most loveliest person anyone could have meet if I needed a chat she was there we would talk about the weather to bra and knickers 🤣 .
if she didnt see me for a few day she would phone me , in the most softest voice she would say ” its only Doris are you ok ” .
I couldnt run off because she always asked were u off to what time will you be back , can you post my crosswords for me and guard it with your lifeshe would say has thats the big one , pick up my magazines, get me some milk , there was always a smile with the word please oh I must say I introduced Doris to potters sausages anyone would have thought she had won the lottery she had found an old fashion sausage and found her walls bacon .
These are only some of my memorys of Doris Bryant .😍
Oh Doris you will be missed so much at Middlemore Complex.
We used to talk about your knitting patterns.
Also when you was on the buses.
We used to talk about your beloved Bill.
We used to talk about when you was evacuated in World War 2.
We used to sit outside in the summer myself Yvonne Cath Frank and Fred
One summer evening we laughed so much I tipped backwards of the chair .
When I used to come around you would ring me and say Pat have u forgot something and I would say oh doris are my glasses there .
Doris god bless .
Pat xxxxxxxxxx
I really can’t write anything without crying….. She was a huge part of my childhood memories. Holidays in Birmingham, Isle of Wight and Gosport, so exotic! Its hard to see my Mom so sad at losing her eldest sister, but we’ve had some lovely chats remembering the good times.
Lots of love to my amazing cousins Julie and Ruth, who have lost an amazing mother xxxxx
Me and my sister Dawn would visit Auntie Doris a couple of times a year and offer to take lunch to her, but would she accept that….no….she always insisted on making us lunch, and a very nice lunch it always was.
We would always chat about our Mom (Doris’s sister) who Aunt is now reunited with. We would put the world right and have a bit of a laugh.
Sadly because of my ill health and then Covid we didn’t see her for over 12 months but there’ll always be a special place in my heart for my Auntie Doris. ♥️
Well done. This is beautiful. I lost my mom recently and, like you, we had to think out of the box on how we were going to celebrate her life. It makes it all the more personal. Wish your family well and keep hold of your most treasured memories.
My sister Doris always kept in contact with me as she did with all family members and friends a very considerate sister it’s was a shock to my system to have learned of her passing, I know it was expected and if for not the pandemic I would have been by her bed side, she will be greatly missed.
Love you Doris Bryant R.I.P.
doris was a lovely lady ,she helped us when we was planting our flowers ,and cutting our rose bush ,we loved seeing her beautiful flowers out the front ,she was so helpful when garry moved in and she seem to know when he needed some one just to talk ,i loved talking to her and her daughter ,she will be missed a lovely lady i had to know for 8 years ,god bless and love to you doris ,heaven will be a beautiful place with you in it doris ,a big shinning star and the garden will be full of colour and flowers ,thank you lovely lady we loved you ,cheryl and garry no 50 xxxxxx
Doris was a lovely person who always made me feel part of the family I will miss spending the night watching her and Julie playing scrabble, especially the 2 letter words will never forget her and light a candle for her xxxx