I'm sorry for the long post but today i feel like sharing.

When I first moved to this house 10years ago, I didn't know anyone here or have any friends/family in the area. I had never lived alone but had to for my 2nd degree and it scared the life out of me - mainly due to the lady next door telling me how the old couple had died here.

My saviour was an old widow 3 doors down - a busy body to every one else but salt of the earth type to me. We built a strong bond and I took her shopping with me every week for 10 years. As my family grew from my 1st dog to my husband and then the subsequent 3 other pups, she was always there. Bringing soup when I was ill, feeding hubby when I was away, bring left over roasts for the dogs and always looking out of the bedroom window to check they were ok. She called them her babies, carried pictures of them with her and even had a huge portrait in her living room. Every christmas each dog would recieve a present of a large tin of dog food and a tennis ball. Nothing fancy but on a pension, this was extravagant and a card every birthday. When clearing out her wardrobe, her husband found 4 parcels, labelled in each dog's name containing faux mink blankets. I can't even begin to think how much they must of cost or how long she saved up for them.

When she remarried there was gossip on the park. Everyone speculated her age and the gap between her's and that of her husband. I was so happy for her. Although she had the keys to several houses on the road, no one asked her if she needed anything when she was snowed in or unable to get out. Having no children from her previous marriage and him not marrying until he met her, they came to rely on us as much as we did them. Infact, pops still comes over for dinner every night.

On february 10th this year, her husband came home from work to find her collapsed in the hall, having had a stroke. The doctors gave her 36-48hrs to live. She battled on for a week before passing on the 19th. She was 83. Having lost both of my parents, she was like a mother/grandmother to me.

When her will was read, she had made a provision - "I would like all the meat in my freezer to be given to my babies."

Today, my dogs will be enjoy their final meal from her huge freezer of pheasant and venison. The meat having been gifted to her from a hunting friend of hers. Having enjoyed a number of stock pots full of pork, game, fish and offal, I look at them and think how lucky they were to have Doris in their lives. She was barely 5 foot tall and 4 large gsds never daunted her. They'd sit in line for a hug and a treat, wanting all her attention. I know they miss her much as i do and that as much as they loved her, she loved them more.

Never judge a book by it's cover. RIP Doris and enjoy the game meat babies.

What a lovely story. :) I am so sorry you have all lost such a good friend though.

That is so lovely. Really sorry to hear of your loss. It sounds like Doris was a really wonderful person.

What a lovely story, and what a good friend you were to this lady too.

Think I've got something in my eye now...

She sounds like she was a great friend and a wonderful lady - so sorry to hear of your loss.

RIP Doris

A true friend to you and your dogs .... lovely story thank you for sharing

Sounds as if she was a real character Bless her :D Sorry for your loss and the dogs'

>Think I've got something in my eye now...

Me too

What a lovely story! She obviously really appreciated the time you spent with her - and loved your dogs too!

Thank you very much for your kind responses. Yes she was a wonderful character with many wonderful stories.

She came to this country to work in domestic service aged 22 and lived in 2 great halls until the 2nd family emigrated. She was lady in waiting for princess Anne one night when her own lady in waiting took ill. The princess was so impressed with her, she took her to london and Doris came back with a beautiful string of cultured pearls as a thank you. When the Queen toured Leicester for her jubilee, Doris got accidentally knocked off the curb. A police woman guided her to a patrol car and she thought she was being arrested! After charming the officers, she was driven round the back entrance, where the royal rolls was parked and she got to courtesy the Queen and prince philip. But of course she was more excited about sitting in the air conditioned police car.

The woman could literally charm birds out of trees and pops is still diligently feeding 'fatty - the wood pigeon's' offspring.

My boy misses her the most, one christmas he and his brother literally dragged my husband across the park to greet her through the fence as she saw her guests off across the road! Whenever pops get emotional he puts his head on his lap and keeps offering his paw.

She was one in a million and packed church for her funeral was testament to that.

every dog deserves a Doris in their life, sadly few get one. How fortunate you were too to find such a good and interesting friend, they say that friends are the family you choose for yourself, you and your dogs had a wonderful family in Doris, you must all miss her badly.

Another here who think thats a wonderful experience you have had...I was going to put story but to me a story isnt something thats real.

You truly were blessed to have found one another, so wonderful when you meet someone like that, you adopted one another including fur babies. ;-)   Life is good when we have friends (or rather family) like this, for she truly became family.

So sorry for your loss and thank you for sharing, so wonderful to hear of human kindness. :-) :-)

Thank you so much for sharing your once in a million lady.  I am so pleased that Pops still has you.

I am truly sorry for your loss.

Smashing to have such a lovely lady in your life. I can imagine how you feel her loss, I've got a friend like this and count myself extremely lucky. May your dogs enjoy their feast.

Thank you all for your wonderful responses. I miss her everyday but I can't begin to imagine how pops must feel. He rarely goes home before 11pm because I think he can't bare the empty house. He has brothers and sisters but they are busy in their own lives - its sad really, especially as 2 of them are literally down the road.

Doris lived by one mantra - 'feed everyone, envy no one and be happy with your lot in life. '

If I could, I would wish the world to be full of people like Doris and for everyone to be blessed by having a friend like her.

Treasure your friend Wolfie, you too are one of the lucky ones :)

What a lovely story so sad for your loss she was obviously a lovely and very important lady . Hope her husband is coping ok but with you nearby I am sure he will be fine

Oh my, what a wonderful story but of course Im so sorry for your loss too. Im so glad you all had each other in all your lives. Thank you too for making a difference to this ladies life. I'm sure she has left a huge gap in all your lives but will always be watching over you all and her 'babies'
Sleep tight Doris.