Doris E. Croudis, 94


     SACO - Doris Evelyn Croudis, 94, passed away Saturday morning on May 6, 2006, at St. Andre Health Care Facility in Biddeford.

     She was born on Sept. 3, 1911 on Chebeague Island, a daughter of Ivan Sturdivant and Eileen Hamilton Bryan. Doris was raised and lived most of her life in the Deering Center neighborhood of Portland. She graduated valedictorian from Deering High School, Class of 1929.

    Upon graduating from Gorham Normal School, Doris taught school in Lovell for one year before returning to Portland to marry her husband, Bernard W. Croudis of Yarmouth. They met while working summers at the Royal River Inn and Coffee Shop in Yarmouth.

     They lived for several years in Troy and Albany, N.Y., before returning to Maine and making their home on Tremont Street, in Portland.

     While living in Portland, Doris taught at Gray's Business School until the birth of her only child Eileen

     Mrs. Croudis was a member of the Central Square Baptist Church

     Her hobbies included reading, knitting and gardening.She loved traveling and wintering in Sarasota, Fla., with her husband during retirement. Family summer vacations were spent on Chebeague Island and most recently she loved spending time with her daughter and family at Ocean Point.

     Mrs. Croudis was a favorite caretaker for her nieces, nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews. They all regarded her as one of the most loving and kindest person they have ever known. Her family and relatives meant a lot to her throughout her whole life

     In the past few years she was cared for and loved by her favorite people, Barbara Berube, Vicki Day, Fran Morin and Donna Wirling of Home Companions and by Lucie Hatch of Winterhaven, in Saco.

     Mrs. Croudis was predeceased by her husband, Bernard W. Croudis in 1994, and by a sister, Marjorie Bryan O'Donnell.

    She is survived by her daughter, Eileen Horton and her husband Richard of Saco; a grandson, Daniel Lenn of Lakewood, Ohio;a niece, Diane Shevenell and her husand Ray of Cape Elizabeth; two nephews, Dana O'Donnell and his wife Ida of South Portland, and David O'Donnell and his wife Marie of Colorado Springs, Colo.; grandnieces and grandnephews, Tonya, Peter, Bryan, Doyle and Natalie ; step- grandchildren, Terri Brann, Melanie Rocker, Jennifer Myers and Christina Valliere; and many step-great-grandchildren.

    Visiting hours will be from 5-7 p.m., Monday from Cote Funeral Home, corner of Beach and James St., Saco. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday from Laurel Hill Cemetery Chapel in Saco with Rev. Douglas E. Nielsen officiating. Burial will be at a later date in Riverside Cemetery, Falmouth.
     Arrangements are by Cote Funeral Home, Saco.
     Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider donations to:
    Chebeague United
    Methodist Church
    North Road
    Chebeague Island, Maine 04017
     Doris E. Croudis
Doris' sixth birthday party!

Top Row: Marion, Doris Bryan Croudis, Eleanor Johnson, Eloise Hamilton, Raymond Hamilton, Bessie Hamilton
Bottom Row: Gladys Bowen Bennett, Richard Bowen, Myrtis Soule, Rufus Soule