Doris H. Wagner

North Greenbush-Doris H. Wagner, 91, of Snyders Lake, loving friend to so many, passed away on June 1,2023.To Doris there were two types of people in the world: those she knew and loved, and those she didn’t know, and loved. She made you feel you were the most important person in the world. That was her special gift, and she bestowed it lavishly.

Doris was born in Taborton, NY, to Rev. Oscar and Anna M. Kuebler Egli on October 2, 1931. Rev. Egli was the Pastor of what was then the Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church (now Zion UCC of Taborton). An understanding of Doris begins with an appreciation of her powerful, lifelong connection to that Church. It was her history, her organizing principle.

As is often the case with compassionate souls, Doris was no stranger to life’s tragedies. When she was 15, she lost an aunt with whom she was exceptionally close, then within months, her mother died, and then her father died suddenly a few months after that. With no family, she was sent to live in Parma, Ohio, with relatives she didn’t know. While the move was well-intentioned, it separated her from her home and her beloved Church. And then, while earning her B.A. in Liberal Arts from Parma’s Heidelberg University, she met her first love, who soon died of cancer. He was 22.

Loss always changes a person. Some respond with bitterness. But for the strong of heart, loss can grant them the power to relate to the pain of others. They become healers. This was Doris. Rather than withdrawing from the world, she embraced it. Since she had no children, she adopted all of us, treasured us, and fawned over us. While few even knew of her sad history, we all felt her compassion, her kindness, her unconditional love, and her acceptance. And if those didn’t work, she had the most incredible sense of humor, and the most infectious laugh you can imagine.

Doris returned from Parma, Ohio, in 1953, and began teaching 5^th grade at Sand Lake Elementary School where she spent her entire career, retiring in1986. It was difficult to be out with Doris, in a diner or grocery store anywhere in Rensselaer County, without someone in their 60s approaching her shouting excitedly, “Ms. Egli! Ms. Egli! Remember me?” And, of course, Doris would, along with the most minute details about them, their lives, and even their families’ lives.

Then, in 1970, after swearing she would never love again, Doris met Lou Wagner. They enjoyed 25 years of a happy marriage until Lou died in 1999.

In addition to Lou, Doris is predeceased by her good friends, Ida & Lew Wager.

She leaves behind so many of us who loved her and are grateful to have known her. These friends include Mary Pat & Art Steinstra (children, Jessica & Dan), who cared for Doris so tenderly in her final weeks, her pinochle partners Dottie Young (husband, Ed), Lois Beaudoin, Sue Retzlaff, and EmilyAnn Malone who was constantly at Doris’ bedside as the end neared, Rev. Robert Loesch, the Wager family, Wayne Herron, Kevin Landers, Helen Momrow and Michael Rivest (children, Sara & Michael).

What a legacy Doris leaves; what a mother she was. We have faith to know she has only gone ahead of us to the far side bank. We trust that when we all round the final bend in the river, she will be standing there on the shore, arms outstretched, to welcome us home.

We will always love you, Doris.

Funeral 11 am Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at the Perry-Komdat Funeral Chapel 2691 NY 43 at Glass Lake Averill Park with burial to follow in the Sand Lake Union Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited and may also call at the Funeral Chapel 4-7 pm on Tuesday, June 6.

If desired donations in memory of Doris H. Wagner may be made to the Zion UCC Taborton 741 Taborton Road, Sand Lake, NY 12153 or the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society 3 Oakland Ave. Menands, NY 12204.

Visit www.perrykomdat.com for directions and a guestbook.