Doris Sara Tatarsky Abraham

All who knew Doris Abraham are welcomed to attend either of the two services that will be held to honor Mom and celebrate her life. The first will be on Wednesday, August 28 at 4pm at Rosborough Hall in Asbury Methodist Village, her most recent home and community. The second will be on Friday, August 30 in Blacksburg, Virginia starting at 2pm with a service at McCoy Funeral Home, followed by a graveside service and then a reception where we will tell more stories and drink Mom’s favorite beverages, black coffee and chardonnay. Doris Sara Tatarsky Abraham, age 95, passed away in her apartment with all of her favorite things on Sunday, August 4, 2024. Doris was born on December 28, 1928 in Richmond, Virginia to her loving parents Goldie Passamanek Tatarsky and Philip Tatarsky. She was the first of two daughters, being predeceased by her younger sister Gladys Tatarsky. She was the wife of 67 years to the late Robert Abraham whom she married in 1950. She was a devoted mother to four once rambunctious and now “active” kids David, Michael, Rick, and Karen; daughters-in-law Mary, Jane, Allison and son-in law Bill. She was the adored grandmother of seven grandchildren: Whitney, Josh, Jeffrey, Alex, Katie, Dan, and Carly. And she was most excited this year to become Great Grandma Doris to “the most beautiful baby in the world,” Larkin Francis Ratcliffe, daughter of Whitney Abraham Ratcliffe and Susie Ratcliffe in January. She was cherished by her loving cousins, extended family, and community. Doris grew up in Richmond, Virginia. Her parents, Goldie and Phil were both first generation American immigrants originating from Russia/Ukraine and Poland. At any opportunity Doris loved to recount her family history and genealogy. Doris had a happy childhood with many friends. Her best friends were a group of Jewish girls who called themselves the Zipper Club with a motto of “Zip up to Success!” The last surviving member of the zipper club, Jena Sager, lives in Richmond, VA and was close friends with Doris until her final days. Doris was studying occupational therapy at Richmond Professional Institute when she was set up on a blind date by her friend Ginger Abraham with Ginger’s brother and Doris’s eventual husband, Robert Abraham (Bob). After Doris and Bob were married they moved to Radford, Virginia where Doris earned her degree in education and soon began teaching science and history at Christiansburg High School. Doris and Bob lived briefly in Dunsmuir, California and then in Grants Pass, Oregon in 1953 for Bob’s job in the Forest Service. The couple landed back in Christiansburg, VA when Bob earned a job with the local newspaper and printing company. They thought they would be in southwest Virginia for a short period while looking for opportunities closer to Doris’s family in Richmond, and they ended up staying a short 64 years. Doris and Bob bought a house on Hillcrest Drive in 1954 and Doris said she was so excited to have her own house she said she felt like she had died and gone to heaven. Speaking of religion, the Abrahams were the only Jewish family in the county, and Doris was determined that her children would have a religious education– driving them 2 hours each week to Temple Emanuel in Roanoke. Doris and Bob were also determined that their four kids should experience everything including lots of sports, swimming lessons, vacations up and down the East Coast two world's fairs, and frequent trips NY where their cousins lived. The kids learned that there was a big world to explore. After the children were all in school, in order to support the kids' college education, Doris earned her masters degree and began teaching again. She managed to do this while running the household and raising four children, and was able to get her masters in a couple of years. She then went back to teaching history and guidance, at Blacksburg High School, and eventually stayed for 17 ½ years. Doris was inspiring in her strength and tireless work ethic juggling a career, raising four children, and care taking for her husband over years of health challenges. Doris somehow had more than 24 hours in each day, and was incredibly prominent in community life in Christiansburg. She was in the Junior Women’s Club and she volunteered for the Mental Health Society. She was on the board of the local mental health chapter. She served with the Montgomery County chapter to the State Mental Health Association, and one time was selected volunteer of the year. She had many friends and loved to talk to anyone. Her favorite phrase was “to make a long story short,” but she never actually did. Her ability to talk to anyone and everyone served her well as a guidance counselor and over the years many of her former students have expressed their gratitude for how she helped them find their way. She was also incredibly creatively talented. Devoting hours to needlepoint, knitting, and sewing ornate works— including but not limited to her daughter Karen’s wedding gown. She was utterly devoted to her children and grandchildren. She loved nothing more than spending all the time she could with them, and never missed any important occasion. In retirement Doris and Bob got to live the life they had always dreamed. They traveled extensively to the Caribbean, Scandinavia, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Morocco, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, and Venezuela. They were very, very happy in retirement and traveling, and they absolutely passed the travel bug down to their children and grandchildren. In Doris’s final years she was fiercely independent, she loved living by herself. And she never asked for help, but she was always very appreciative when she got it. But we all know that father time is undefeated, and eventually, Doris‘ time came. She passed quietly, peacefully, and in the best of mental health. We should all be so lucky. A life is so much more than can be put into words. But still, we try. Doris will be remembered most for her indomitable spirit, her unbounded love for her family and friends, her constant smile and congeniality. She leaves behind four children and their spouses; seven grandchildren and their spouses; and one brand new, beautiful great granddaughter. Three nephews and their families. A host of friends, many of whom passed on before her. And a community of her students and others in the community who remember the contributions that she made to their lives. She touched many, many people in her life and made theirs better. Her life was all about creating love and sharing it. We will miss her dearly.

Doris Sara Tatarsky Abraham

December 28, 1928 - August 4, 2024