Obituary
Doris Anneliese Schmidt (Julkowski), 83, of Englewood, FL, passed away peacefully on November 16, 2024, after a brief illness. Born on April 10, 1941, in Darmstadt, Germany, Doris lived a remarkable life shaped by resilience, love, and joy.
In her early years, Doris trained as a hairdresser in Germany, mastering her craft with skill and creativity. At the age of 23, seeking new opportunities, Doris courageously boarded a ship and emigrated to the United States in 1963. It was here that she met her husband, Klaus, also a German immigrant. They married and shared 59 wonderful years together, building a life filled with love, adventure, and family.
Doris cherished her friends and found great joy in their company, particularly on skiing trips, camping excursions near the beach, and dancing, one of her favorite pastimes. She especially loved spending time with her close circle of German friends, affectionately known as “Girls Talk,” where laughter and shared stories created cherished memories. Doris also delighted in cooking traditional German dishes and desserts, which her family and friends enjoyed and fondly remember as part of her warm and welcoming spirit.
Doris worked for many years at Hans and Fritz Deli, a German deli, where she took pride in sharing her heritage with others. She retired from her position there, leaving behind fond memories for her coworkers and customers alike. Despite a lifelong battle with lupus and the challenges it brought, Doris faced each day with unwavering good spirits, a bright smile, and a contagious laugh that touched everyone around her.
She is survived by her devoted husband of 59 years, Klaus; her sons, Michael Schmidt and his wife Julie of Connecticut, and Christopher Schmidt and his wife Abigail Fleming of Colorado. She is also survived by her half-siblings Klaus, Heide, Uli, and Heinz. Doris is predeceased by her sister, Editha Wienhold; her mother, Anneliese Julkowski; her father, Heinz Julkowski; and her stepfather, Walter Jahn. She leaves behind a caring circle of relatives, friends, and especially her loving neighbors in both Florida and Connecticut, who enriched her life with their kindness and friendship, as well as her faithful Shih Tzu, Teddy, who was a constant companion.
The family plans to hold a Celebration of Life in her honor in Connecticut at a later date. In lieu of flowers, they kindly request that donations be made to the Lupus Foundation of America in Doris’s memory.
Doris will be remembered for her resilience, warmth, the joy she brought to those who knew her, and the delicious meals and desserts that connected her heritage to her loved ones. She will be deeply missed but never forgotten.
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