Doris Tiani

Doris Jean (Oplinger) Tiani passed away quietly and peacefully on October 11, 2021 at the age of 97. Her family gathered the day prior for prayers and goodbyes and she passed the following day with her youngest son by her side. Doris was the beloved wife of Denny Tiani for 77 years, and he survives. She was born on December 13, 1923 in Bakersfield, California; but grew up on her family farm in Weidman, Michigan. She and Denny and their family made their home first in the Dearborn area and later moved to their current Hamburg Township home. She was predeceased by her parents, Sterling and Violet Oplinger, and her brother Earl Oplinger. Her kind spirit and love for her family will provide peace to all. Doris will be deeply missed by her husband, Denny Tiani; her children Vera (Dan), Denis, Gary (Rosemary), Donna (John), Eugene (Peggy); her 11 grandchildren, Kristen, Sophia (Christian), Violet (Nick), Eben, Malaika (Matthew), Christopher, Kendra, Elise, Tony, Max, Olivia; her 8 great grandchildren, Justin (Nicole), Corey (Alex), Kyle, Derek, Leila, Able, Daisy, Quil; great grandson Tell; nephews Kenny (Vicky), Ed (Sandy), Bob (Anne), and Bill; her beloved dog Betsy, who never left her side except to bark at squirrels; and by so many friends and neighbors who loved and cherished her.

Doris was a nurse at Henry Ford Hospital when she met her husband Denny. She was a beautiful seamstress, hairdresser, award winning watercolor artist, star high school basketball player, and was the first girl in her high school to receive the award of most outstanding athlete. She always cooked everything from scratch at a time when TV dinners were all the rage. She tried making pizza dough once by tossing the dough into the air to stretch it like the local pizzeria did. She got a little too energetic and the dough stuck to the ceiling of her kitchen. We laughed so hard we could hardly catch our breath. Doris loved hunting for rocks, shells and pinecones and always oohed and aahed when the kids brought them to her to examine. She loved going for walks until one day, only a few years ago, she said she couldn’t make it back to the car, so her solution was to take big giant steps so she could get back sooner. She loved making egg noodles and said “wow, look at that!” each time she cranked the machine and the noodles emerged. When the cherries were ripe and the rest of the family were searching for step ladders, Doris changed into her jeans and emerged with a bucket in her teeth, then climbed into the cherry tree and started picking. Doris lived beautifully and generously, and was always full of curiosity. Her sense of wonder was contagious and is now carried on by her children and grandchildren.

The family will gather over the weekend for a small outdoor memorial service. Memorial donations can be made in Doris’s memory to Webster United Church of Christ, or to Arbor Hospice.