Doris Handorf, 100, New Lenox

Doris Handorf left her beloved home and garden on Thursday, April 18, at the age of 100 years and 8 months when God called her to her heavenly home to join her dear sister, Ethel and other loved ones.
Aunt Doris leaves a legacy of a spirited woman with a life of service to others. She had a positive approach to life and lived it well serving her Lord. This loving, strong, tenacious and thoughtful aunt has been supportive and involved with her 23 nieces and nephews, 55 great nieces and great nephews, 85 great, great nieces and nephews along with 6 great, great, great nieces and nephews instilling her strong Christian values.
Doris was born on July 31, 1923, to John F. and Mary (Beckwith) Handorf on the same family farm her grandparents had farmed when they came from Germany located near Marley, Illinois. She was preceded in death by all her 7 siblings: Marion; Johnny (Anita); Alma (Harwood) Stellwagen; Wilma (George) Yapp; Ethel (David) Bruns; Howard (Geraldine); and baby Elmer.
She was fifth of the eight children growing up on the farm and involved in the many chores. As a child, she walked to the one-room Marley grade school and then attended Joliet Township High School, graduating in 1941. In 1944, she moved with her parents, two sisters and brother to the 100-year-old, large Van Duser farm house less than a mile down the road to the west. This home is registered as a historical landmark in New Lenox.
Doris started her career as a secretary at the Monon Railroad in Chicago, working with her cousin, Minne Harnew. She then went to work for the Rock Island Railroad with her sister Ethel and friends Betty Sass and Sue Binion, where they rode the train for free. This young foursome enjoyed playing cards on the train rides, and they also traveled together by train to Wyoming for a fun vacation.
In later years, Doris also worked at Standard Oil in Joliet and was a nurse’s aide at St. Joseph Hospital in Joliet for two years. Doris then cared for her aging father and had outstanding flower and vegetable gardens, and canned endless amounts of produce. She built up a charitable reputation, as many benefitted from her garden labors and giving spirit.
Doris joined the Marley Church as a teenager and was the longest-serving member. Through the years, she has been active in many capacities as a Sunday School teacher, leader of Do-Unto-Others-Club, Women’s Society activities, Church dinners, Flea Markets, etc. Many remember her bringing in tubs of chopped rhubarb for pies for the Flea Market and washing the floor on her hands and knees at the end of the day.
Doris also led an adventurous life of not one but 5 trips down the Havasu area of the Grand Canyon, and twice hiked down the regular trail with Ethel. They shared many adventures around Ethel’s mountain home in Breckenridge, where Doris spent many winters, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Closer to home she enjoyed numerous hikes to enjoy the spring flowers and bluebells in Messenger Woods. Doris has nurtured the love of nature and God’s glorious world in her family. She was a blessing to all the family, and while they will greatly miss her, they will cherish many rich memories and life’s lessons she taught them.
Services for Doris were held on May 5 at the Marley Community Church. Donations to the Marley Community Church in Doris’s name would be appreciated.