Dora Laswell, age 90, passed away June 11, 2021 in Friendswood, TX. Dora was born in East Prussia (Germany) to Maria and Hermann Hildebrandt. Dora lived through “the war” and after WWII met and married the love of her life, Bill Laswell, of Kings Mountain, KY. Dora and Bill lived in Germany, Indiana, Kentucky, and in New Lexington, OH, then Columbus, OH where they raised their 3 children, Doris (Rick) Barnes, Frank (Pam) Laswell, and Jim (Marty) Laswell. Dora had 6 grandchildren who loved their “Oma,” Adam, Amanda, David, Andrew, Natalie, and Corry, and 6 great-grandchildren. Dora moved from Columbus back to New Lexington where she enjoyed her retirement years and where Dora and “the German Girls” got together frequently. Dora lived the last few years in Texas.
Dora was was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Bill, her sisters Frieda Lutz and Erika Hildebrandt, and her brother Kurt Hildebrandt. She is survived by her children, her sisters Eva (Rolf) Botzenhardt and Ria Bender, and her sister-in-law, Roberta Sue Laswell. Dora/Aunt Dora/Tante Dora was well known by and kept in contact with many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and cousins.
As her children got older, Dora returned to the workforce. She spent several years working at The Kahiki Polynesian Supper Club in Columbus. If you lived in or traveled through Columbus, you knew of The Kahiki. Nothing else in the world compared to it, and if you saw it, it was something you didn’t forget – just like Dora. Those who worked at The Kahiki remember Dora. She graduated from Beautician School after the children were out of the house and worked as a Beautician for several years.
Dora enjoyed baking. Later in life she learned cake decorating – her cakes were very good; the decorations were wonderful! Her grandchildren fondly looked forward to the specially decorated cakes from Oma.
Dora definitely had a fun-loving streak in her. She didn’t just teach us as kids how to swing, we had to fight with her for swing time! And she continued going on swings, and jump roping, into her 70’s! Until more recent years, she loved walking. She was always involved in family board games and card games, and since the instructions and rules were in English, not German, they didn’t always get followed that closely! If her kids are a bit “competitive” in card games, they learned from a card-shark! In later years, Skip-Bo was the card game of choice. Dora wasn’t a sore loser, but she definitely let you know that she didn’t like to lose!
She was an avid reader and spent many hours in libraries; a well-known “regular” at the New Lexington library. She was also well known by most of the workers at local grocery stores (usually Kroger), and at church, banks, insurance offices, doctor’s offices, car service shops, and too many other places to mention. Dora was from an era where, no matter what you did, you personally connected with others. In all-ways Dora did that! People loved listening to her German accent, they loved to talk with her, they loved hearing her stories, and she loved telling them.
Dora loved writing and calling relatives and friends, and, in later years, trying to keep up with others via email. Along with her son-in-law, Rick, Dora enjoyed many hours at the local senior center in Friendswood until COVID prevented attending.
Dora was a German, and stubborn one! But, her love of everyone, not just family and friends, her sharing, her strong work ethic, her belief in what’s right, and her tenacity got her places and allowed her accomplish many things which others didn’t think that she should or could accomplish. Her life wasn’t easy, but she didn’t complain … she just did. After breaking her leg and being told not to put weight on it, she went up and down the stairs every day by scooting on her behind! She followed the rules – but her way! She was a tenacious fighter and she didn‘t give up, even up to the very end.
There are so many things to say about her and to describe her, but this seems to sum it up: Dora loved nothing more than to be surrounded by people who she could chat with and share stories with. And … people loved hearing her … and they all simply loved her accent! So many were blessed to have Dora, Mom, Oma, Tante Dora, a part of their lives!
Dora passed away due to complications from Alzheimer’s and Dementia. There will be no formal services. Contributions can be made in her name to Good Sheppard Hospice facility, 14511 Falling Creek Dr. #204, Houston, Texas 77014. Website https://www.goodshepherdhospice.com/
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ForestParkEast-FHC.com for the Laswell family.
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