Doris Aurand Gabel
Print
Doris Aurand Gabel, 86, formerly of Parkesburg, passed away June 7, 2013 at the Riverside Methodist Hospital of Columbus, Ohio. She was the widow of Louis W. Gabel, who died in 2001 after they had shared 50 years of marriage together. Born in Lewistown, Pa., Doris was the daughter of the late Fern and Sara (Moore) Aurand.
She graduated from Penn State and later pursued graduate work at Penn State, Millersville and West Chester.
In 1949, Doris came to teach at the former Parkesburg High School. She retired from the Octorara Area School District in 1988, and traveled widely, making friends on four continents.
Doris was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church of Parkesburg, and was a pillar of the Parkesburg Free Library, serving on the Christmas in Parkesburg committee for many years.
She is survived by her two children: Linda G. Gabel of Columbus, Ohio and Dr. Christopher R. Gabel, husband of Ann, of Leavenworth, KS; grandsons Matthew (Kyra) and Eric; and a brother, James M. Aurand of Lewistown.
Doris was predeceased by her siblings, Dorothy Aurand, Carl Aurand, and Dr. Eleanor Aurand of Lewistown.
The Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at 11 AM at the Wilde Funeral Home, 434 Main St., Parkesburg with the Rev. Dr. Richard Graugh officiating. Interment will follow at the Upper Octorara Cemetery.
The viewing will take place at the Funeral Home on both Tuesday evening, June 11th from 6 until 8 and again on Wednesday morning from 10 until 11 AM.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Parkesburg Free Library, 105 West Street, Parkesburg, PA, 19365.
Condolences
So sorry to hear of Aunt
So sorry to hear of Aunt Doris' passing. She will certainly be missed at the annual family gathering. She was one of the sweetest, most knowledgable women I've met in a very long time. Our thoughts and prayers of comfort are with Linda and Chris.
Farewell, Doris.
There are easily thousands who can say, "Doris was my Fifth Grade teacher," myself included. Doris was a lady of phenomenal intellect and was one who practiced the ART of teaching. She instilled the love of learning and love and respect for acquisition of knowledge in SO many of us. Doris and I sat beside one another at the funeral of the late Shirley Willingham of parkesburg in August 2004, after not having seen one another for several years previous. Always the gifted storyteller, she told me how she and Shirley first made each other's acquaintance. Doris said when she first came to Parkesburg and began teaching in the 1949-50 School year, she boarded with an elderly lady in the 500 block of Second Avenue, who didn't have a water heater in her home. That winter Doris said she made her weekly extravagance a standing Friday-evening appointment at "Shirley's beauty Shop" right across the street - to enjoy the luxury of having her hair washed and rinsed in warm water! Rest in Peace, Doris - you were loved and respected by so many whose lives you enriched.
A dear saint
I had the privilege of knowing Doris for just a short time, yet in that time I heard many wonderful stories of the ways she deeply touch others, especially the children she taught. I remember the Sunday we gathered around her to bless her move to Ohio. She was a good and faithful servant, who is now rejoicing in the presence of our Lord.
Mrs.Gabel shepherded our 5th grade class through hard times -
Submitted by Bernadette Cazillo Misero
Not one of us will forget Mrs.Gabel, who was born to
be a teacher and shaper of the lives in her care.
During our year, we lost a beloved classmate, Erin Marjorie
Miller, to serious illness. She called us on the phone to tell us and our families the sad news and was there with us
at Pennington Presbyterian Church in our tears and disbelief. Her name stayed on her desk as we struggled to
accept that she wasn't coming back. Mrs.Gabel knew it would
be a process for everyone, and shared with us how hard it was for her to lose a student. She encouraged us to come up with our own ways to honor and remember Erin.
It was also the year our hostages were being held in Iran.
We were seeing fellow Americans paraded in front of news
cameras with blindfolds on, and treated like criminals. Mrs.
Gabel changed the number in the classroom for each day they
were in captivity and gave us time to express our feelings
and questions. Her kindness and wisdom helped us feel a little less powerless and more able to believe that our people would be coming home.
Her magical voice reading us stories like Narnia, and The Island of Blue Dolphins, was a blessed escape into the
world of imagination. In the midst of some hard days, Mrs.
Gabel was a true turkish delight and we look forward to reuniting with her in eternity with Our Savior !
May the difference she made to so many help to bring peace
and joy to her family during the journey ahead.
Glad to have worked with her
I started teaching at Octorara as the primary special education teacher, and my class was on the campus with the 4th and 5th grade classes. I must have had my breaks or lunch with the 5th grade staff for I have fond memories of each of them; Mrs Gabel, Mrs Woodward, Mrs Smallwood, and Mr Fisher. My classroom was way at the end of the other wing, and since special education was not mainstreamed when I started teaching, I never worked closely with the 5th grade teachers.
I think I connected with Doris, because she had lived in Lewistown and that was where my dad was from and I still had relatives living there. I thought what a small world, for I had never met anyone else who lived in Lewistown before.
The 5th grade moved to the middle school and I only would see Doris occasionally. Eventually I moved to Parkesburg and Doris and my paths would cross at the library or walking around town. I enjoyed talking with her for I always felt her warmth and interest in life.
When I retired and attended the retired teacher luncheons I was always glad to see Doris. I will never forget her sharing about the great trip she took to Mongolia. She was a quite a fiesty, full of life, lovely lady. I will miss her.