Doris Helen Jaeger McKeon, age 89, passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord on November 13, 2019, after a fulfilling life as a wife, mother, grandmother, caregiver, and dear friend to many. The first of four children born to Robert and Helen Jaeger, Doris entered this world on August 30, 1930 in Richmond Hill, Queens, New York where she spent the early part of her life. Doris and family later moved to New Jersey where they settled in Dumont and opened a grocery store and butcher shop. Doris attended Lincoln Primary School and developed a life-long love of music that she passed to her children many years later. She learned to play the clarinet and piano and as a 5th grader was asked to perform at the 8th grade graduation ceremony. At Lincoln, Doris met her devoted friend, Roslyn Winkler (Gervasio). The two young girls were inseparable for much of Doris’ formative years and remained close friends for over 80 years, spending time together on occasion and talking for hours over the phone. At the age of 15, Doris was accepted into the prestigious Julliard School of Music in New York City to pursue her love of music. She attended Washington Junior High and graduated from Dumont High School in 1948. She played the clarinet in the Dumont High School Band all four years and entertained her family on the piano during special occasions and holiday celebrations. While in High School, Doris helped her father by making grocery deliveries throughout the local community in the family’s panel truck. While driving the family roadster, Doris honed the driving skills she would later use to carpool her four boys to swim/baseball/football/wrestling/soccer practice for nearly two decades. In 1948, Doris enrolled in the Hackensack Nursing School and discovered her life’s calling as a caregiver. Following her graduation in 1951, Doris headed south to Duke Medical Center where she completed her nursing residency and earned her Registered Nurse (RN) certification in 1953. Doris arrived in Ann Arbor in the fall of 1953 and began her nursing career at the University of Michigan Hospital. In 1955, Doris met John McKeon at a nurse’s party and on August 31, 1957 they were married at Saint Thomas Catholic Church. Doris spent the next 25 years completely devoted to her young family, making thousands of sandwiches, writing little notes of encouragement, folding a mountain of clothes, carpooling kids all over Michigan, cooking macaroni and cheese, and whipping up special batches of tapioca pudding. She was the quintessential swim mom long before swim mom was a thing. In 1981, Doris returned to the profession of nursing at the University of Michigan Hospital and later transferred to the University of Michigan Breast Cancer Care Center. She retired from nursing in 1993 and spent the next 26 years enjoying life with husband John. Together they attended special events at the family farm in Swartz Creek, MI, traveled to Florida and North Carolina to visit the ocean, enjoyed trips to see their children and grandchildren all over this great land, and spent countless hours relaxing on the back porch of the family home. Doris always found comfort in the color purple, her wardrobe and flower garden proudly boasting various shades of the virtuous color. During her time on earth, Doris made the family home in Ann Arbor the center of the universe for her husband, four boys, and extended family. She selflessly shared her love of music, an unbridled passion to care for others, and an unconditional love of family that so clearly defined her spirit.

Doris is survived by her husband of 62 years John; sons Matthew (Lisa) of Forest Hills, NY, Scott (Brian) of Columbus, OH, Patrick (LeeAnn) of Ann Arbor, and Mark of San Rafael, CA; grandchildren Andrew (Hayley) of Austin, TX, Katherine of Brooklyn, NY, Quinn Keck of NC, Donovan of Ann Arbor, and Nevaeh Samoun-McKeon of Novato, CA; younger sister Virginia White (Martin), sister-in-law Kathy Jaeger and numerous nieces and nephews. She is proceeded in death by her parents, sister Carol Rademacher, and brother Robert Jaeger.

Visitation will take place at Nie Family Funeral Home on 3767 W. Jackson Rd in Ann Arbor on Sunday, November 17, 2019 from 2:00 to 6:00 PM. A funeral service will take place at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 2250 E Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, on November 18, 2019 at 11:00 AM.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Saline Evangelical Home and Arbor Hospice for their kindness, and the Celebrant at Doris’ Mass, the Reverend Fr. James P. Conlon.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, PO Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090 in Doris’ name. On-line donations can be made at: https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Events/Tributes-AlzheimersChampions?pg=fund&fr_id=1060&pxfid=600630