Doris Patricia Schnabel
December 23, 1933 - March 4, 2021
Funeral Details: A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.
Schnabel, Doris Patricia: It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Doris on March 4th, 2021 in King City, Ontario following a brief battle with cancer. She was in the company of her loving family and passed peacefully. She was in her 88th year. Doris Schnabel (maiden name Hollingsworth) was born in London, England in 1933 during the height of the global depression. Affectionally nicknamed “Swanny” as a child for her light blond flowing hair, she and her younger siblings were evacuated into the English countryside during the advent of WWII in anticipation of the London Blitz. She spent 6 years in the company of host families in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire until she returned to London in 1945 and eventually migrated to New Jersey, USA at the age of 14. She pursued her high school degree in Scotch Plains NJ and enjoyed a diversified career in hospitality, journalism and the corporate sector. She eventually founded and operated a computer training school and is fondly remembered by many of her students whose careers she helped launch. Doris resided in Livingston, NJ, Livorno, Italy, Lake Mohawk, NJ, Boonton NJ and eventually in an active adult community – Fox Hills in Rockaway NJ and most recently in King City, Ontario Canada. Doris maintained a vast array of interests and social connections. She was an accomplished gardener sourcing her inspiration from her early English roots and time spent in the countryside and assisting on the Bottone Farm in Livingston, New Jersey in her twenties. She travelled extensively, was an enthusiastic skier, an admirer of the arts, live performances, museums, fine dining, family celebrations and carried the spirit of the holidays throughout the year. She maintained a broad network of friends and co-led or directed several social groups during her retirement; including the RED Hat Society an international women's social society, The Jewish Community Centre, Hanover New Jersey, Morris Country Seniors, the Aurora Senior Center, Aurora Ontario and most recently Memories Plus Senior Day program in Newmarket Ontario. She was a major advocate of higher education and consistently encouraged family and friends to pursue continuing education and professional designations. She served as a family matriarch and led her family with compassion, vision, encouragement and an unwavering love and affection.
She was the beloved wife of the late Bernard Schnabel. Loving mother of Lynda (Ron) Bottone-Pepe, Late Frank Bottone Jr., and Paul (Rose) Schnabel. She will be sadly missed by her grandchildren Jessica Schnabel, John Paul Schnabel, Christina (Dan) Jago, Ryan (Ashley) Pepe, Mathew Pepe and Giovanni Bottone. She was great-grandmother of Logan and Olivia Grace Jago. Predeceased by her parents and six siblings, Doris Schnabel will be fondly remembered by her many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to Peaceful Transition York (2-15236 Yonge Street, Aurora) and condolences may be forwarded through www.peacefultransition.ca
Lynda and Gord Weinholdt
Posted on: Friday, March 5, 2021Amazing tribute. Amazing lady. May she rest in peace
Gail Bottone
Posted on: Friday, March 5, 2021Our deepest sympathy! What an amazing life! I really didn’t have any idea of her life during WWII and the amazing life after. May her soul Rest In Peace. And may her entire family be comforted by the healing power of God.
paul timpano
Posted on: Saturday, March 6, 2021Losing a mother is never easy and grieving is very personal .
A mother will always have your best interests regardless of the childs age.
Those that still have their parents should cherish and state love for them, hug and hold them dear to you while you can as the world becomes different if not scary without ones parents.
Know clearly that your parents will always accompany you wherever you go and with whatever you do from the heavens so take comfort that they will never leave you to be alone and their unwavering love and support shall always shadow you.
My deepest sympathy and condolences to cousin Paul, Rose and the entire Schnabel family.
Blessings
Paul Timpano
carol policastro
Posted on: Sunday, March 7, 2021Deepest sympathies to you and your family. May she Rest In Peace.
Nancy Pirylis Monaco
Posted on: Sunday, March 7, 2021My condolences to the family, I met Doris through a mutual friend (Blanca), I loved visiting with her, she was so caring and always had an interesting story to tell. She was quite an extraordinary woman. May she Rest in Peace
Eva Kazella
Posted on: Friday, March 26, 2021Please accept our deepest condolences in the passing of Doris. She was a very caring and lovable person.
Her “Eisenhower” family in Fox Hills.
KellyJane Hollingsworth
Posted on: Wednesday, December 22, 2021So sad, and sorry to read that my aunt Swanny has passed on. I was actually looking to see if she was still alive so I could contact her. Sadly I lost my sister Andrea (Hollingsworth) Khalifia, and my momm”Sissy” ( who lived with aunt Swanny, and Paul in the early 70’s along with my brother Tommy, when they came over for six months from London. My moms sister, my aunt Terry also passed, both in March 2021. So hopefully they are all together. So losing 3 family members in the same month. My deepest condolences to my cousins Linda, and Paul, and sad to read Frankie passed too. May aunt Swannie’s spirit be with you all at this holiday season. She is now with her brothers, and sisters. Aunt Swannie also had 3 siblings who were killed during the war, when a bomb rolled down the air raid shelter (tube station) in Highbury corner London. Killed was our grandmother Kate (Katherine) her son George (our uncle, and aunts) Mary, and I can’t quite remember the other girls name, but I believe she was named Katherine after our grandmother. Our grandmother Kate was also pregnant with twins when she was killed. Just some more of our family history I thought you would be interested in. I was in touch with aunt Swanny when we met up at uncle Barney’s 60th wedding anniversary, we kept in touch until I also came down with cancer, and even though I sm a survivor in remission, it opened a can of worms of much health problems, so I lost contact which I now regret. I also at that time had contact with our cousin Eillen, which I also lost contact with. So I would love to hear from you all. Linda I haven’t seen you since I believe the Lake Hopatcong home, but I remember how pretty you were, and how much you looked like aunt Swanny. Frankie was drop dead gorgeous, and Paul was just a cute, and sweet little guy. I’m not sure if you remember me though, but again, I would love to hear from you. I’m still, and always will be a Jersey girl (even though I was born also in Lindon) but like aunt Swanny, I came here at a very young age of 7. I think I remember, if I’m remembering right, that aunt Swanny said Linda had twins, which our grandmother having twins would explain the hereditary. I’m again saddened, and sorry for your loss, our loss. Please reach out to me by email. I am not on fb, or any social media, as I shut that all down. I also do not speak to many of the family, my so called sister Sonia, in which aunt Swanny knew the story behind all this. Yet Linda, Paul, or if you speak to Eiledn (no one else in uncle Barny’s circle) please let Eillen know my email address, or email me hers. Again many blessings forthis holiday season. It’s hard enough with all we are going through, but to lose loved ones doesn’t make it easier, especially first holidays. Love, hugs, and kisses to you all. Your cousin Kelly.💕
Gary Hollingsworth
Posted on: Tuesday, December 6, 2022Deep condolences to the all the family of my late aunt Swanee. To all of my cousins whom I’ve barely or never met we all share a connection stemming from the disaster of ww2. Thank you Kelly for the facts of the horrible bombing that took grandma Catherine. I didn’t know there was an uncle George or aunt Mary.
I’m the middle son of Ronald Hollingsworth. Brother of aunt Swannee. My dad was instrumental in her having immigrated to New Jersey at age 14 after the war. He landed in New Jersey by chance when He was plucked out of the ocean after the sinking of his British Navy ship by a German u boat. The plucker was the brother of Ray Emry whose parents later became like foster parents to my dad and aunt Swanee to some extent. They lived in Summit New Jersey. The story was the beginning of what eventually lead to the
immigration if Uncle Barney, Aunt Hida, uncle Dennis and uncle Jack into New Jersey. All by the luck and fate of that day at sea in which my father was one of just a few survivors. This story was passed to me by Ray Emry at my father’s funeral. It was a traumatic moment which my dad had never spoken of. My father and aunt Swanee had broken communication for many years. As the story goes he had tried to play surrogate father to her which she was having none of. Eventually they rekindled their ties as siblings but I unfortunately had little oportunity to know my aunt well or her family. I’m sure this was due mostly to my father’s firey temper and sharp tongue which Aunt Swanee knew all too well. Given what they had been through it was understandable but not always forgiven. I’m thankful that Aunt Swanee was forgiving enough to bridge the gap and maintain family ties as best she could. May God bless her.