Doris Gladys Steiner

Doris Gladys Steiner, 79, was born in St. Louis, Mo., to Gladys and William Loehr, and died Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, at home surrounded by her husband, children and grandchildren. She had a long and courageous battle with Scleroderma for 35 years while maintaining a zest for life that was an inspiration to all who knew her. She never stopped enjoying life to the fullest. Doris married Dick Steiner on June 26, 1954, in Chicago, Ill. She graduated from Chicago Teachers College in June 1954. After briefly teaching in the Chicago Public School System, she retired to spend her time as a stay at home mom to raise her five children. She always said that was the most important job. Doris and Dick moved to the San Fernando Valley in 1956 and to the Central Coast in 1991 after having spent 27 years in Northridge, Calif. Doris sold office equipment for Chaparral Business Machines in the early 1990s and was a top sales person. She was an avid bridge player and a member of many party and duplicate bridge groups. If anyone needed help with the bidding protocol they would always seek help from Doris.  She also liked to play poker and pinochle with her relatives and friends. She was an accomplished painter and enjoyed giving her paintings to her friends and family and enjoyed passing on her painting talents to her grandchildren. She liked to travel with Dick and the two traveled extensively throughout North America, Europe, South Africa, Asia and Australia and New Zealand. She was very successful on many TV game shows such as "Let''s Make a Deal and Truth or Consequences." On "Dealer''s Choice" she stated her occupation as "race car driver." With obvious dismay to the emcee, she explained that she drove her children to school every day. She was a world class shopper who could always find the best bargains and spent much time shopping at the LA Mart in Los Angeles with her friends. Doris was an excellent cook and baker. One of her most successful items was the Chocolate Easter eggs she made for all her children and grandchildren.  One of Dick''s father''s quotes was "Nobody can prepare a meal faster than Doris."  She made sure no one was ever hungry or went without dessert. She had a knack for making everyone she met feel comfortable in their conversations. She also was a very loyal friend. You could always count on Doris to do the right thing in all her relationships. Doris is survived by her husband, Dick; five children Susan of Laguna Niguel, Calif., Thomas of Quartz Hill, Calif., Mary (Bill) of Danville, Calif., Linda (Brian) of San Jose, Calif., and Donald (Rose) of Newport Beach, Calif.; 10 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Viewing will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m., with a vigil and the recitation of the rosary at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011, at Reis Family Mortuary, 991 Nipomo in San Luis Obispo. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 18, 2011, at the Old Mission in San Luis Obispo, with burial at Los Osos Valley Memorial Park in Los Osos.  In lieu of flowers, have a Mass celebrated for Doris at your own church or through the Seraphic Mass Association, (877) 737-9050, http://www.seraphicmass.org/cards_info.asp; or send a donation to the Scleroderma Foundation, Attn: Donations, 300 Rosewood Dr., Ste. 105, Danvers, MA 01923, (800) 722-4673.