Doris I. Nalty

Doris Irene NALTY
1926-2012

As we watched our dear mother dying, the enormity of her life finally became clear to us. She was this sweet little girl, the 8th female child in a family with, up to the time of her birth, boasted only two sons, whose father joked about needing yet "another girl...." The rest of the quote is subject to interpretation, but in retrospect, the attitude she perceived affected Doris for the remainder of her life. She nevertheless adored the father she lost at age ten and her devotion to her 'Mama', her rock and her role model was unparalleled. Doris' mother 'Mary' gave birth to 12 children; one of whom died in infancy. Doris was the 3rd youngest of her siblings. Doris is preceeded in death by brothers John, Paul and Charles, and sisters Harriett, Adelaide, Virginia, Marion and Joanne. She is survived by sisters Beverly and Mary Lou, sister-in law Helen Clare and brother-in law Don. Doris is also survived by her husband of sixty four years, Donald Nalty.

Doris grew up to be one of the most famous beauties of her social circle in 1940's North Denver. She was a natural musician, playing complicated jazz and classical tunes by ear on the piano.....and what a dancer! She wowed the boys at North High school, later at Elictch Gardens renowned band stage and the USO events where she and sister Beverly would sing for the enlisted men home on leave from the war. My dad marvels at how he ever had a chance with this gorgeous young woman whom he met in grade school at St. Dominic's. He had to fight for her attention with all the smooth talkers and dancers in Post war Denver.

But somehow, the handsome sailor (our beloved dad Don) won her heart, and by Labor Day 1949, they were married and on their way to creating their own legacy. Mom confessed that she always wanted to become a nurse. Well....she had all of the right stuff...after giving birth to nine babies and seeing eight of us through all of the childhood illnesses without the benefit of regular doctor visits, she proved what an excellent nurse she was.

The Nalty children began to arrive in 1949: Stephen first, then Helen, followed by the twins Michael and Patrick, and another set of twins! Anne and Anthony. Six babies in five years! Regrettably, baby Anthony died in infancy, leaving his twin sister Anne, mother and father devastated, with the rest of us to young to understand. Daniel Joseph, Brian and Peter followed, compeletig the Sillstrop/Nalty clan.

Mom devoted herself to her growing family, keeping an immaculate home and doing her best with cooking. Cooking wasn't her strong suit....she would rather sing and dance...even scrub floors or wash and iron clothes than cook. Nevertheless, she became renowned for her Sunday pot roast and gravy. And we suspect no one knew more ways to cook a potato! Mom's grandchildren and great-grands---- will never forget her incomparable toast! Yes, toast. Love must have been the secret ingredient. And her love grew with each grandchild born: Kelly Ann, Cara, Tomi, Colleen, Nicole, Molly, Kevin, Ryan, Annalise, Julie, Tara, Joey, Cliff, Andrew, Ruth, Emily and Gabrielle, followed by her great grandchildren: Jake (her milk and tookies baby), miraculous Mykel Lauren, Killian, Kelton, Jameson and Aisha. Doris will see her two newest grand babies from heaven.
She is also survived by her children's spouses; Tamas, Michael, Julie, Katie, Kim and Delia and grandchildren's spouses; Peter, Amy, Terri, Phil and Badou.

Was our mother perfect? Of course not....nor would she ever have claimed to be....but that she had a toe in the divine? Of course she did; every time she held a baby, heard a Gershwin melody or felt the beat of a tune she could dance to.....

In her final months, one of the things that gave her the most joy was seeing the photo of our newly adopted family member, little Aiden Christpher Charles Smith, whose photograph sat on the bedside table. Son of Elizabeth Shugarts-Smith and Mark Smith, this little darling put a smile on her face every time she looked at him. Perhaps now Mom is in a position to happily serve as guardian angel to this beautiful little boy.

As for her progeny, we are so blessed. Through her life, through the process of her transition to the glory of God in the last years and months, we have witnessed the reconciliation of all of her familial relationships. We have seen her truest sweet spirit and will hold those memories of Doris Irene Nalty (nee Sillstrop) for the rest of our days......until we join with her again in paradise.

We love you forever, our beloved mother. Rest in the peace of our Lord and Savior.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.