We have been blessed to love and be loved by our dedicated and devoted loved one, Doris Thelma Price.
“… Love, it is a flower and [we are] only seed. … Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snows lies the seed that with [our God’s love] in the spring becomes the Rose.”
– Amanda McBroom, “The Rose”
Born July 31, 1933, Doris was the only surviving child born to Susie M. (Grandma) and Ferdinand J. King in Brooklyn, NY. She was just 3lbs at birth. So she was born a fighter and born out of love and faith of our dear praying Grandma. She and Grandma were as close as close could be. Doris grew up with that same strength of love and faith. Doris would say “where there is life there is hope.” But she always wanted to have sisters and brothers. She lamented being an only child all her life. Growing up being an only child was not only lonely but there was no one else to distract Grandma. So she could not get away with any misbehaving. Grandma would always say though that Doris never gave her any trouble.
While Doris did not have sisters and brothers she had a large extended family with many cousins and childhood friends. One year at a summer camp she met her dear friend Bertha, where Doris had a swimming incident and almost drowned. From that experience she developed a fear of water that she would try to conquer for the rest of her life. Doris was a Catholic girl as she would often refer to herself. The King family were parishioners at St. Peter Claver’s Church at 2 Jefferson Avenue in Brooklyn, NY. Doris was baptized on June 26, 1936 and her sponsors were Joseph and Hattie Nochant. Doris graduated from elementary school at St. Peter Claver in 1947 and then attended Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School for girls. She graduated in 1951. After graduation Doris attended college, worked as a model and held other jobs.
Doris understood the importance of education. She encouraged whoever would listen to pursue and get their education. So lessons and education were a center of focus for Doris throughout her life. In fact she continued lifelong learning. She took swimming lessons and worked hard to overcome her fear of the water. She took bible study classes, Spanish lessons and other classes for different jobs in insurance and banking.
In 1965, Doris married her beloved Howard Price, and they were married for 55 years – they met in the lunchroom at Chase Manhattan Bank where they both worked. They were blessed with three children, Dorene, Vanessa, and Khary. Doris loved her family and loved being a mother. She was also godmother to her friend Lenora’s daughter Toni, and her grandchildren Mikyle and Andre. Doris taught her children how to read by the time they were 5 years old. She was a great teacher. And Doris took her children to museums and other cultural places of learning many times with her friends’ families, Lynette or Rosetta or both. While growing as a family they lived with Grandma in Brooklyn and then relocated to Smithtown, NY to provide their children with the best education and opportunities they could. The house in Smithtown was Doris’ dream home. And as it was expensive to live there, Doris returned to the work force to help support the family. She worked as a teller at Dime Savings Bank, and for Combined Insurance and Blue Cross Blue Shield where she retired.
In her expression of faith, Doris was a devout Catholic. She attended mass weekly, and joined the Columbiettes at St. Patrick’s Church in Smithtown, NY with Grandma in 1977. Doris served in the Holy Mother Mary chapter of the Columbiettes for many years, serving as Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-President and President. Doris gave her time, talent, and treasure to the Columbiettes in their mission to give spiritual and material support to Holy Mother Church, to their brother knights, and to the community. They ran fundraisers (including fashion shows, spaghetti dinners, international dinners, Christmas luncheons, and more) to support different charities, local outreach programs, and transcribed alphabet books for blind children.
Doris loved chocolate. She was a self-prescribed and indisputable chocaholic. After dinner, Doris would enjoy Yankee Doodles, Kit Kats, Pinwheels, chocolate ice cream, chocolate cake, chocolate mousse or anything chocolate. When her children went to college, a care package would have a 1lb chocolate bar. And when her children were sick she would say to eat some chocolate, it will make you feel better. But chocolate aside Doris was ahead of her time as far as healthy habits and appreciated approaches such as naturopathy. She went to and took her children to the chiropractor. And she cooked vegetables with kelp and other healthy meals. When she began to develop symptoms of Alzheimer's or dementia she sought natural remedies first.
Dementia was a 20 year long battle that truly showed her tremendous courage, bravery, strength, faith and love, the greatest of all these being LOVE. While she was on an already arduous path Doris was challenged with breast cancer. She beat that too. Cancer and Alzheimer's never took away Doris’ love of family and of life. So many people loved her because Doris was so loving. Wendy who assisted Howard (her devoted, dedicated full time caregiver) 2 days a week for 6 years, and caretakers at Sunrise of Shelby in the last months of her earthly journey have shared how Doris was the best client they ever took care of because she was so full of love. And those close to Doris who knew her all of their lives say the same thing - how gracious and caring Doris was.
Doris was the beloved wife of the late Howard Price and cousin of the late Ruth Howze. Cherishing her memory and loving soul are the now Patriarch of the family, Bishop Richard T. Howze, daughter and son-in-law, Dorene and Michael Polcari, daughter and son-in-law, Vanessa and John T. Grayson, Jr., son and daughter-in-law, Khary and Migdalia Price, sister-in-law, Joan Gray, sister-in-law and husband, Joyce and Casey Morris, Sr., granddaughter, Sabrina Price, grandsons, William Grayson, Khary Price, Jr., Mikyle Polcari, Andre Polcari, and John C. Grayson, niece, Nicole Gray, nephews, Casey Morris, Jr., Raymond Morris, great-nieces, Dominique Gray, Crysten Baxter, Addison Morris, great-nephew, Raymond Morris, Jr., cousins, Ruth Marlene Howze-Brown, Sheila Freeman (Gary), Patricia Tarver, Valerie Massey (Ronny), Tracy Ann Smith and Tina Marie Felton, Jason Mark Smith (Terri), Tiffany Simone Williams, Troy Massey, Nicole Ana Smith (Rick), Jennifer Chang, Timothy Matthew Tarver, Nina Marie Felton, Terrence Massey, Steven Craig Felton, Joshua David Brown II (Sheena), Britney Masse, a host of beloved relatives, and deeply devoted friends.
“…Take my hand, I’ll lead you to salvation. … There is a flame that never dies. Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise. [You] will live again in freedom in the garden of the Lord…”
- Epilogue, Les Miserables
We, the family members are using this medium to express our deep and sincere gratitude to all those who have reached out to us in our time of bereavement. We pray that you will continue to keep us in your prayers and thoughts as we deal with the difficult and uncertain days ahead. We know that God’s grace and peace are sufficient. And it is with that knowledge and belief that we will walk by faith each new day step by step, moment by moment, breadth by breadth.
Reposing at the O B. Davis Funeral Homes, 4839 Nesconset Hwy, Port Jefferson Station, New York 11776 on Monday, September 13, 2021 from 8:30-9:30 AM. Mass of Christian burial on Monday, September 13, 2021 at 10:00 AM at Infant Jesus RC Church Chapel at St. Charles Hospital, 200 Belle Terre Road, Port Jefferson, New York 11777. Interment to follow at St Charles Cemetery, 2015 Wellwood Ave, Farmingdale, New York 11785.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.obdavisportjefferson.com for the Price family.
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