Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Flanders, Doris Marie "Dodo" (Aikens) 2008
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Ionia Sentinel Standard, 9 Sep 2008

Doris Marie (“Dodo”) Flanders of Ionia, aged 97, beloved mother, grandmother,
and friend, went to be with the Lord on Sept 6, 2008.  She was born in Syracuse,
New York on June 12, 1911 the daughter of Benjamin and Lena (Soules) Aikens.  In
her young childhood, Doris came to Michigan on the train with her mother and
older brother, Floyd.  They lived for a time in Lakeview with Grandpa Barton,
where the children attended Lakeview schools.  She married Willis Hubert (“Gus”)
Flanders in Byron, Ohio on Dec.  21, 1929, and they lived in Ionia where he was
a city firefighter for almost four decades.  The couple loved to dance and play
cards.  He preceded Doris in death on December 24, 1970 but remained her one
true love until her last breath.  Cooking delicious, nutritious meals and
keeping an immaculate house were important endeavors for Doris, who also loved
keeping up on the latest news and gossip on current movie stars and politicians.
 Her family, both immediate and extended, was always the primary focus of her
joy.  She was well known for her Christmas treats, especially soft sugar cookies
and “church windows,” as well as her tasty cakes and pies, which she readily
shared with anyone who was hungry.  Doris was employed for a short time at
Ionia’s General Motors Plant, and for a number of years in the 1970s and 1980s,
she worked at Ardens, a small local manufacture of household items.  She was a
long-time member of First Baptist Church in Ionia and a former member of the
Moose Lodge.  For the last two years, Doris has resided at Heartlands Health
Care where she met and became close friends with Lillian Neustifter, her kind
and caring roommate.

Left behind to celebrate her life and cherish her memory are her daughter Wanda
Lou “Monie” (George) Bennett and son Joseph (Sally) Flanders, both of Ionia and
seven prized grandchildren, Kirk (Charlotte) Bennett, Kim Bennett, Kelly (Rick)
Mendez, Timothy (Sara) Flanders, Jennifer (John) Wojciakowski, Christian
Flanders and Patrick Flanders, as well as eight great-grandchildren and four
great great grandchildren.  Also surviving are her siblings, Max Raglin of
Belding and Barbara Raglin of Ionia and many nieces, nephews, neighbors and
friends.  In addition to her husband Willis, Mrs. Flanders was predeceased by
her brother, Floyd Aikens.

Visitation will be Monday, Sept.  8 from 6-8 p.m. at Schrauben-Lehman Funeral
Home, 220 Rich Street, Ionia.  Celebration of Doris Flanders’ life will be
Tuesday, Sept.  9 at 1 p.m. at Schrauben-Lehman Funeral Home with pastor Don
Ketchum of First Baptist Church officiating.  Final resting place will be in
Balcom Cemetery beside her late husband.  A memorial has been established for
Ionia First Baptist Church.


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