Doris Ruth (Plantz) Lynch

Doris Ruth (Plantz) Lynch

Doris, born to her beloved parents Catherine and Frank Plantz on March 11, 1928 died at the age of 96 on March 22, 2024 at Matthew House in Auburn after a very brief yet cruel illness, cancer. Doris grew up on Hamilton St in Jordan and graduated from Jordan HS in 1945, always fondly remembering her hometown, dear friends, and the much loved Jordan Fall Festival.

After graduation Doris worked at Nationwide Insurance in Syracuse, then at New York State Electric and Gas in the Jordan office for 5 years. Doris met John Michael Lynch at the Riverview Hotel in 1954 and the rest they say…is history! They married in 1955 and first lived on Jackson St in Weedsport, then in 1958 purchased their “farm” on the corner of Rt 34 & Downs Rd in Weedsport where they would settle for the next 38 years. Doris and John took immense pride in all they did. Their home was a labor of love and was especially appreciated by their children who could not have asked for a more idyllic place to grow up. Our home was filled with family reunions & softball games, holiday gatherings, chicken BBQ’s, pool parties, every pet imaginable, baling hay & shooting hoops in the barn, endless dirt bikes racing, and always a hot home cooked meal around the dinner table every night! From gardening, sewing, canning, baking, crafting, running kids around, to chasing escaped cows down the road; everything mom did seemed effortless and flawless and was done out of pure love for her family - except the cow chasing!

Doris was a member of the local Drum & Bugle Corp in Jordan after graduation, bowling leagues in both Jordan and Weedsport, a dedicated member of the Weedsport Garden Club, and Doris and John were both members of the Weedsport Senior Citizens Club for years. During her childhood and for numerous years, she cherished the summers spent at her parents’ camp near Chippewa Bay on the St. Lawrence River. Doris and John enjoyed an incredibly close-knit circle of friends and family with whom they traveled, never missed a Wednesday “Happy Hour”, and for oh so many years couldn’t wait for their weekly card games-quarters jingling and endless laughter! Doris & John downsized in 1996 and moved to Port Byron, delighting in their grandchildren. Nana loved teaching them how to bake biscuits, plant flowers, taking them to watch the trains, cheering them on and loving them always. In her final years, an avid reader, she was known to have a stack of books all being read at once; and wanted to express her love and thanks to her friends at Weedsport Library for their kindness over the years. Doris’ love of puzzles, cooking, tending to her flowers & numerous feathered friends added to her happiness. Her mind was sharp until the very end, always challenging herself and learning even into her 90’s. “They don’t make ‘em like her anymore” has been said more than once about Doris! The epitome of simplicity, strength, unconditional love and sacrifice, that is our Mom.

Doris was predeceased by her husband of 57 years John Michael; Sister Allura June Somes; Brothers Robert (Rosie) Preston, Gordon (Grump) Frank, Bruce Henry; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; and her beloved 6-year-old Grandson Michael John McBride with whom she shared her love of gardening, frogs, butterflies and birds. The chive garden they planted together still thrives!

Doris is survived by sons; Timothy, David, Robert; Daughter Aimee (Brian) McBride; and her treasured grandchildren whom she couldn’t be prouder of; John Lynch, Natalie Lynch, and Parker McBride; Sister Carolyn Moore, Sister-in-law Mabel Plantz; Sister-in-law and brother-in-law Helen & Ed Furman; and oh so many adored nieces, nephews, & cousins. Doris held a special connection with two nieces; Amy Cleland MacRae and Karen Moore Hardman-both especially dear to her heart.

In honoring Doris’ wishes, there will be no calling hours and a private burial will be at Maple Grove Cemetery in Elbridge in the Spring.

Doris kindly requested memorials wishing to be made would be to one of the following: Make A Wish of CNY, 5005 Campuswood Dr, E Syracuse, NY 13057; Weedsport Free Library, 2795 E Brutus St, Weedsport, NY 13166, or Matthew House, 43 Metcalf Dr, Auburn, NY 13021 (Dear Matthew House Angels: it is with our deepest heartfelt gratitude for the compassion & tender care you showed our mom in her final weeks, you provided a Haven for her to die with the same dignity and grace that she lived her entire life with, there is no greater gift…) “A mother is she who can take the place of all others, but whose place no one else can ever take.”

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