Doris Ursula Rosemary Hrdlitschka

February 1, 2019
Our darling mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and beloved wife, Doris Ursula Rosemary Hrdlitschka, passed away peacefully in her sleep on February 1, 2019 at Vernon Jubilee Hospital after a valiant battle with congestive heart failure.

Doris lived and breathed family, it was her life's true passion. Everyone felt her love. We wish every family could be blessed with such an 'Oma'. Doris was an amazing person, so full of life, always laughing and smiling; she loved life to the fullest and you could feel the warmth radiating from her personality. She had (has) a huge place in everyone's hearts.

Born and raised in Reutlingen, Germany in 1934, Doris met the love of her life and husband of 64 years, Franz, at a swim club dance. Doris and Franz were married in 1955 and their son, Peter, followed later that year.

Being post war, times were tough in Germany, so the family moved to the land of opportunity, Canada, and settled in very rainy Ocean Falls, BC, where Michael was born. After a few years Doris tasked Franz with finding a sunnier place to live, and in 1965 the family settled in Vernon, BC.

Franz and Doris were amazing parents, shuttling their sons to swim practices early mornings and after school. Doris was one of the original super women, successfully and tirelessly being a mother, wife, and career woman. Doris spent the last 29 years of her working career at the Royal Bank of Canada. Doris loved her colleagues and clients, and worked her way up to a highly respected Senior Loans Officer.

After retirement, Doris and Franz enjoyed traveling, skiing, and spending every possible moment with their family and friends, often entertaining in their beautiful backyard and pool. Doris loved the ocean and sunshine, and throughout the years made quite a few visits to Maui, Vancouver Island, Mexico and the Caribbean.

In 2014, to celebrate their 80th birthdays and their 59th wedding anniversary, Doris and Franz renewed their vows in front of their family on Fleming Beach in Maui. It was the highlight of their beautiful marriage, one that was a true partnership in every way. Never a day went by when they didn't hold hands, and somehow express their love for one another. This past summer, Franz and Doris had the opportunity to spend three weeks with their siblings and their families in Germany, laughing and reminiscing.

Doris was a wonderful, warm, welcoming person that was loved by many and will be greatly missed by her beloved husband Franz, Sons Peter (Sharon) and Michael (Anne), Daughter-in-law Shelley, Grandchildren Tyler (Jessica), Byron, Danielle (Danny), Cara (Mark), Kyla (Cory), and step- granddaughter Megan (Neil), great-grandchild Isabella, lifetime best friend and sister Helene, niece Sonja (Rudiger, Max, Florence), nephew Andreas (Simone, Daniel), brother-in-law Heinz (Elizabeth), nephew Gunther (Claudia, Emily and Joanna), and niece Anette (Helmut), family cat of 22 years Mittens and many other relatives and friends both in Germany and Canada.

Special thanks to Dr. Harper, Dr. Naude, nurses at We Care and the staff at Vernon Jubilee Hospital for helping take care of Doris.

At the request of Doris there will be no formal funeral service, but a Celebration of Life will be held Saturday Feb 23, 2019 between 2 pm and 4 pm at the Vernon Yacht Club. Light refreshments will be served, and everyone can share their stories. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Heart and Stroke Foundation in memory of Doris.

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