KENNEBUNK — Doris Katherine Schumacher, 97, of Kennebunk, Maine, and Craigville, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully in home hospice care amidst loved ones in Kennebunk on April 17, 2017, having lived a full life with family and lifelong friendships.

Born in Paterson, New Jersey, on Nov. 22, 1919, the daughter of Charles White and Louise (Ulrich) White, Doris was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, teacher and friend to those who had the pleasure of knowing her.

She and her sister, Janet, grew up and attended school in Paterson, spending many cherished summers at their family’s home on Greenwood Lake, New Jersey. Her early ambition was to be a kindergarten teacher, and, despite the Great Depression, she worked to put herself through New Jersey State Teacher’s College. Upon graduation, she became a kindergarten teacher. It was to be her lifetime profession and pride. Most of her teaching years —recognized in remembrances by her students — were in the Clarkstown, New York, school district with close colleagues, who remained enduring friends.

She met her husband, Karl, at Greenwood Lake in the pre-war years. They were married in 1944, while he was serving in World War II. The couple settled in New City, New York, in 1953, in that era, a picturesque, semi-rural suburb of New York City, and resided there for 25 years. Good fortune allowed them to raise their children, carve their careers and live among neighbors with whom parties, holiday cookouts and friendships were the norm. Doris was an enthusiastic and daring cook and an indomitable hostess. She was also a dedicated, industrious, and loving wife and mother, with a social conscience formed by her Catholic faith. She will also be remembered as a woman who loved a party.

The couple began vacationing in Craigville, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod in the early 1950’s, eventually buying a cottage there that serves as the family summer gathering place to this day. Family and friends followed. Sitting with friends at the beach, picnicking on the shore, playing Rummikub, and enjoying evenings on her deck were the joys of her summers.

After Karl was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, and retired from his architecture practice, she was a dedicated caregiver until his death in 1986.

Over the last decades, she wintered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and returned to Cape Cod in the summer, always in the company of those she knew and loved from all walks of her life.

In Florida, she continued her role as an unofficial social director of her community of friends, organizing outings, trips to shows, cooking for a homeless shelter, and clubhouse parties for all sorts of occasions. Her warmth and sociability are still well-remembered.

Entering Huntington Common at age 90, she enjoyed friendly games of bridge, presentations on music and history, and other activities. She was known for her feisty personality and spirit. To the end of her life, she maintained friendships with old neighbors, grade school friends, and former teaching colleagues and would receive scores of handwritten cards at every holiday.

Doris was moral, caring, rigorously fair-minded and a wonderful friend. She will be sadly missed.

She is survived by: her daughters, Joan Beal (Richard), and Anne Horrigan (Tim); and her sons, Karl Schumacher Jr. and Paul Schumacher (Rachel); her grandchildren, Barney Beal (Liz Costin), Carissa Schumacher, Emily and Rebecca Horrigan, and Ryder Schumacher; and great-grandson, Jayden Beal.

The family particularly wishes to express their gratitude to the caring staff of Huntington Common, who filled Doris’ last years with care, competence, and appreciation of the peculiarities of life.

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Martha’s Catholic Church, Kennebunk, ME on Friday, April 21 at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301 or dav.org

To leave a message of condolence or remembrance, please visit Doris’ Book of Memories page at bibberfuneral.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer St., Kennebunk, ME. 04043.