Doris Maxine Zentz

Doris M. Zentz, age 91, went home to Heaven June 4, 2023. Beloved wife of Raymond for 68 wonderful years. Loving mother of Adele (John) Cox, Elaine, Phil (Debi) and the late Leonard; dear Grandma to Alysa, Jennifer, Kevin, Kenneth, Jared, Tara, Mollie, Bryan, Jake, Nathan, Elijah and Ben; proud great grandmother of Kendal, Audrey, Madyson, Makenzie, Morgan, Sadie, Kaleb, Ryker, Ezra, Elijah and Ellie. Doris is survived by her loving sister Carol Young.

Born in Detroit to Mabel (Stockford) and Charles Schermerhorn in 1931, Doris and her family attended Midland Avenue Chapel, where she put her faith in Christ as her personal Savior at the age of 9, on May 3, 1941. Doris loved the Lord and served her Savior with great joy.

She received her diploma from Cooley High School in 1949 where she majored in Home Economics and played Field Hockey and Basketball. She went on to Grace Hospital School of Nursing and graduated as a Licensed Practical Nurse and began working at Highland Park General Hospital. It was here that she cared for her future mother-in-law, Icyphine, who told her several times, “You must meet my son!” and then conspired to make sure that Raymond visited only on Doris’s shift. All of this resulted in a lovely winter wedding January 5, 1952, a beautiful and frosty Niagara Falls honeymoon, and an immediate move to Biggs Air Force Base in El Paso Texas, where her new husband, Corporal Raymond Zentz, was serving as Base Engineer, and where they lived in a small garage apartment that they rented from their pastor at Grace Chapel. Doris worked as a civilian nurse in the military hospital.

When they returned to Michigan, Doris eventually welcomed four children into her world and joyfully utilized all of her high school home economics training, becoming an adventurous cook, an avid homemaker, a gracious hostess, and a loving mother. Her nursing background came in handy with four kids, and she was always cool in an emergency as well as sympathetic and reassuring toward sick or injured children. She made sure her kids knew how to perform all manner of household chores and truly prepared them for life in their own homes one day.

She passed down a wonderful spiritual heritage to her children through her faithful and disciplined early morning quiet times, sitting on the living room sofa, surrounded by her Bible, a cup of coffee, devotional books, and a box of tissue. She was up before dawn every day, praying (and shedding tears, sometimes) for her family, and taking her concerns to the Lord. She sought God’s guidance and strength for her daily needs, setting an example for her children by making time daily to enjoy God’s Word and fellowship with Him in preparation for the busy day ahead.

Significant events in Mom’s life after her kids left home included going back to school and earning a Bible and Ministry Certificate, which she used in her role as a women’s Bible study teacher for 30 years, as well as a Family Counselor and Hospital Visitation Volunteer for her beloved Bethany Baptist Church. When her mother descended into Alzheimer's, Doris, along with her sister Carol, tenderly cared for their mother through her entire illness, showering her with respect, honor and loving kindness until the moment she died.

Doris lived out the scripture from Romans 12:11-13: “Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion. Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times. Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your home to strangers.” Doris’s generous life, positive outlook, gracious forgiveness and absolute confidence in God’s faithfulness is summed up in Proverbs 31:25-29: “ She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”

A visitation for Doris will be held Friday, June 16, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Kaul Funeral Home, 35201 Garfield Rd, Clinton Township, MI 48035. The family will greet guests Saturday, June 17, 2023 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM, with a Funeral Service to follow at 10:30 AM at Kaul Funeral Home, 35201 Garfield Rd, Clinton Township, MI 48035. A graveside service will occur Saturday, June 17, 2023 at 3:00 PM at Christian Memorial Gardens West, 521 E Hamlin Rd, Rochester Hills, MI 48307.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Bethany Baptist Church Missionary Fund per request of Doris.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kaul-funeral.com for the Zentz family.