Doris L. Bresnahan's Obituary
Doris Scarborough Bresnahan passed away due to natural causes in her La Mesa home on June 13th, 2015She was born Doris Lucille Stovall in Paragould, Arkansas, on December 12th, 1923 to Thomas and Stella Stovall. Doris was the fifth of six daughters: Virginia, Ruth, Betty, Mary, and Sue.Doris graduated high school from The Academy of Our Lady of Peace, Class of 41, and attended St. Joseph’s Business School in San Diego. She was later to graduate with an AA degree from Southwestern Community College and to attend UCSD. She married her first husband, William Scarborough, in San Diego in 1942 and lived in Texas during WW II where her daughter, Virginia, was born. After relocating to San Diego after the war, her second daughter, Ann, was born.Doris had a successful career for many years as a school secretary in the Sweetwater Union High School District and retired after she married Robert Bresnahan in 1979. Doris loved being step-mom to his five children, Michael, Katie, Marty, Kerri and Kevin. She especially loved being grandma to their children and “GiGi” to her great-grandchildren. She often expressed her gratitude for her “second family” and for the love and support they have shown her over the years.Doris enjoyed traveling with family and friends during the last twenty years of her life visiting Hawaii, China, Turkey, Holland, England, and France among other destinations but best of all: Italy. She often spoke about her hiking, wine tasting and cooking classes in Tuscany and her many vaporetto excursions in Venice. She was a curious and bold traveler who loved learning about other cultures.Doris was a founding member of “TKE Wives”, attending monthly meetings in that group for over sixty-five years, including one just four days before she passed. She was also a member of the La Mesa Branch of PEO, and a long time volunteer for Grossmont Hospice. Doris was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Lemon Grove and supported many charitable causes.Her grandson, Joseph Richardson, her five sisters, and her spouse, Robert, preceded her in death. Her daughters, Dr. Ann Scarborough Bull of Oxnard, California, and Virginia Horowitz of Nevada City, California, survive her. Her two sons-in-law, Earl Arnold and Christopher Pratt, adored her and called her their friend. Doris also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews, eleven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.Anyone who knew Doris appreciated her optimism, compassion, great listening skills, and open-mindedness. She was spiritual, spunky, loved her independence and had just renewed her driver’s license for five years.Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. on August 26th in the chapel at Holly Cross Catholic Cemetery followed by a celebration of Doris’ life at her home in La Mesa. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests anonymous random acts of kindness, in her name.
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