Doris Thorington Was Nurse and Volunteer

Doris Thorington died peacefully after a long illness on March 1. She was predeceased by her husband Kendall Sowles Thorington who died Sept. 17, 2005. Doris and Kendall were married for 60 years.

Mrs. Thorington was born Nov. 22, 1922 in Natick, the daughter of Amede Andalau Champney and Mary Agnes Hoey Champney. She grew up in Natick and graduated from Natick High School in 1941. She graduated in 1944 from the New England Hospital for Women and Children in Boston as a registered nurse.

On May 11, 1945 she married Kendall, then a chief machinist mate serving in the U. S. Navy. Following World War II they moved to a 120-acre dairy farm in Moretown, Vt. Mrs. Thorington continued her career as a nurse at Heaton Hospital in Montpelier, Vt. and went on to obtain a certificate in public health nursing at Boston University. She worked for many years as a public health nurse for the state of Vermont. She then continued her career at the Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury for approximately 15 years becoming a psychiatric nursing supervisor. She retired from the state of Vermont in 1980. Since her formal retirement she worked in nursing seasonally for a brief time in Florida and Massachusetts. During her years in Vermont she was active in several organizations, including the local PTA, church related committees and societies as well as the Vermont Nurses Association. She had been as active member of the St. Augustine's Church in Montpelier and later at St. Andrew's Church in Waterbury.

Mrs. Thorington had a wide variety of interests throughout her life. She was an accomplished swimmer and enjoyed snow skiing and water skiing. She also enjoyed cooking, sewing, knitting and reading. She also studied oil painting. Being a loving mother and wife there were of course, countless other activities and pursuits in that capacity.

Mr. and Mrs. Thorington retired to Oak Bluffs in 1980, where they owned property. They enjoyed a long and rewarding retirement. Mrs. Thorington traveled extensively with trips including, Israel, Rome, Portugal, Mexico, Ireland, France, Bermuda, the Caribbean and various places in the United States. She enjoyed the beaches of the Vineyard, which she attended as recently as last summer. She often visited friends and family members and leaves many nieces and nephews living on the Island and elsewhere.

Mrs. Thorington worked for some time as a volunteer at the Oak Bluffs Public Library and was as active member of the Good Shepherd Parish of Oak Bluffs. In addition, Doris very much enjoyed her membership in the Oak Bluffs homemakers club and its activities in the community. She was a frequent contributor to several charities.

Mrs. Thorington was predeceased by five siblings, Louis Champney, Mary A. Henna, Helen R. Vorce, Irene Philbrick and Alice Morrow. She is survived by her sister, Mabel McCarthy of Oak Bluffs. She leaves her son, Dr. Paul Thorington and his wife Gloria Thorington. There are two grandsons Andrew and Brandt Thorington. A grand-daughter in law Renee Thorington and a great-grandson, Luc Thorington.

She was devoted to family and admired and respected by friends and members of her church. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church on Saturday, March 4 and interment followed one week later in the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. Donations may be made in her memory to the Oak Bluffs Public Library, P.O. Box 2039, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557. Arrangements were under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs. Visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com for on-line guest book and information.