Doris Mae Beigel Pais

Doris Mae Beigel Pais was the only child of George H. Beigel and Ma. Concepcion Torrelava de Hawkins. She was born on Jackson Street on August 29,1930 and died on May 26, 2026 of old age. Her Beigel family and her cousins welcomed her. Yolanda Serna, Carmen and Alice Barerra, her first cousins, became her sisters and throughout their lives, held a strong bond. Years later, they were joined by their cousin, Philip Torralva, who was like a brother to them. She also had a close bond with her Marotta cousins, Adeline, Tiolinda, Jesse, Vincent, and Joe, Jr. who were always a part of her life. She was preceded by her parents, the Beigel family, her cousins, and her husband.

A true daughter of San Antonio, she was a proud Canary Island descendant through her father and traces her lineage to Juan Leal Goraz. On her mother’s side, she descends from Bartholoe Torrealva who was burned at the stake in Spain during the Inquisition and to Henry VIII and Mary Catherine Boleyn.

Educated at St. Joseph’s School downtown, St Mary’s School, St Mary’s Hall, and Miss Young’s School, she met numerous girls who remained life-long friends. She continued her education at Our Lady of the Lake. She then became a teacher at Swayze Secretarial and Business School where she influenced other young ladies who wanted to pursue careers.

As a young woman, she enjoyed the social club dances and parties. Her memories of the forties and fifties of events at the Municipal Auditorium and the various hotels were priceless. She truly could paint a picture of the times, the fashions, the music, and the events of San Antonio. She was part of the Almeria Club which later became the International Black and White Ball. She continued her involvement through the years and was a member of the executive committee with her husband.

Family was of the upmost importance to her and she spent the majority of her life caring for her parents, aunts, uncles. As a mother, she enjoyed volunteering with the Girl Scouts and at the schools her daughter attended. She was very active at St Anthony School and Incarnate Word High School. She enjoyed being room mother and enjoyed all the field trips throughout the city. Volunteering in the learning center was very important to her.

Though she only had one daughter, she embraced Monica Taylor Schafer, her daughter’s life-long best friend, as family. Doris was blessed to have the love and concern of Monica and her family and truly enjoyed reminiscing about the “good old days”.

Doris enjoyed traveling and visited many international destinations with her husband, both by plane or by cruise, and with her daughter and son-in-law. She loved London and Paris the most. She also enjoyed Broadway and walking in New York City, but always said that the best trips were to Israel. Her son-in-law was determined to take her there and show her the country and all the important historical sites. She fulfilled her wish of praying at the Western Wall.

Over the years, she always was concerned with her feral cat colony and was devoted to the cats she cared for, both outside and inside her home. She had a very soft spot for her pets and was still enjoying naps with her cats in the afternoons.

She is survived by her immediate family: her son in law, Dr. Mark Raizen and her daughter, Alicia, the children of her cousins, Joe Centeno, Jr and Alice Krupp, Dr. Phillip Torralva and all the Marotta family, and life-long friends and neighbors, Nelda Perez, Yolanda Morales, Paula Garcia, Evangeline Chavez and Edmond J. Van Brandt who was devoted to her.

We would like to thank her caregivers, Annabel Almeria and Natalie Yanez. They treated her with kindness and respect and became part of our family. The staff of the Christopher House cared for with compassion during her last week, and we are extremely grateful to them for making her comfortable.

Services are private.