DORIS MARIE CUNNINGHAM

Doris Marie Cunningham Age 85. Passed away peacefully in her sleep in Mill Valley, CA on September 29, 2010. Doris was preceded in death by her loving husband, Thomas in 2007. She is survived by three sons (and their spouses): Paul (Erma), Peter (Suzanne), and Joseph (Annalisa), Thomas' daughter, Sharon (Dean), 13 grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Doris was born in Ontario, CA to Hans Knott and Alice McGaffey and lived most of her formative years in Claremont, CA with her older brother, Frank. She attended college at UCLA for three years and received her BA degree in 1946 from Cal Poly Pomona in International Studies while helping to care for her ailing mother who was suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. Doris married Joseph Roger in Carmel, CA in 1949 and lived in San Francisco and Daly City while raising three boys. She and Joe eventually divorced in 1964. Her working career spanned over 50 years. She worked for 10 years for Pacific Plastic Products in South San Francisco, becoming an executive officer of the company. She also worked for Consolidated Freightways for 10 years as a tax accountant under the Senior Vice President at their corporate headquarters at Kearny and California Streets in San Francisco. In 1980, Doris married Thomas Cunningham and they spent 35 devoted years together, 15 of them in Kauai, HI and their last years in Sonoma. Doris was a member of the Hawaiian Paddling Masters Team that earned a silver medal at the World Paddling Championships in Tahiti in 1986. She was a beautiful and gentle soul who always captured the moment in life, never complaining, always curious, caring, happy and appreciative- even as dementia took hold of her later in life. Her joyful and giving spirit will always be remembered and she is deeply missed. Her family would like to thank the caring staff at Marin Terrace in Mill Valley who cared for her the last three years of her life and also Heartland Hospice of Sonoma. Private Graveside services were held at Veteran's Memorial Section of Mountain Cemetery in Sonoma on October 1, 2010 where she was laid to rest next to her beloved husband, Thomas. Inquiries can be made to DUGGAN'S MISSION CHAPEL, 525 West Napa Street, Sonoma, CA 95476 at (707) 996-3655 or www.duggansmissionchapel.com.