Obituary of Doris Hallman

Doris (Phillips) Hallman passed away peacefully at home on July 7, 2020. A long time resident of Aston, she was born in Portland, PA. She was the youngest of the six children of Clarence and Edna Phillips. She spent most of her childhood years living with and loved by Mariah and Oscar Sickles in Pottsville, PA. She spoke of her foster mother as a kind, loving woman who immigrated from England at the age of 12, and liked to sew and cook. A life-long interest in flowers and gardening began at an early age from helping her foster father, whom she also adored, in their yard. She kept contact with her birth family during this time, especially with her brother Kenneth who hitchhiked in order to come and visit her. In her senior year of high school she moved to Portland to live with her sister Evelyn and family. She worked in Evie's drug store and soda fountain after school and on weekends to help out. She also played basketball in high school and graduated valedictorian of her class at the age of 17. Always quite independent by nature, she moved shortly after graduation to Delaware County, where she rented a room at a woman's boarding house and started working at Sun Oil Company in the chemistry lab. She worked there for several years and during this time she met her husband Bill at a picnic. After three years of courtship, they married in September 1947 after she came back from a three month cross country trip with Evie and family to California and back. She always said it was one of the best experiences of her life and had a curiosity and desire to learn about the rest of the world from that time on. At the age of 79 she realized a life-long dream of visiting England on a two week trip with two of her grandchildren. She and Bill enjoyed looking in antique shops, visiting New Hope, Winterthur, Longwood Gardens, going to Chester County Day, and taking drives through the countryside to look at old homes. They were married for 51 years until his passing in June of 1998. Doris learned to drive at the age of 40 years old and was known to have quite a "lead foot." She was a hard worker having helped to clear the property for their home in Aston of wild bushes, brush and trees before they began to build. Eventually there was an apple orchard, fruit trees, vegetable and flower gardens, shrubs and a meadow and field. The house was built on land next door to Bill's parents. They moved into the house in 1953. It was a life-long labor of love. Doris was also an avid reader, loved talking about current events and politics, gardening, arranging flowers, interior design, and shopping for clothes and antiques. She was always beautifully "turned out" herself, even on days when she wasn't going out. She was a member of Mt. Hope Methodist Church in Aston for 73 years. She attended the Willing Workers Sunday School class for many years, served as a church trustee, and in other various capacities. She liked to attend the Aston Senior Citizen luncheons until the last several years. She was a member of the Swarthmore chapter of the P.E.O. and also worked at Rahn Flower Creations in Swarthmore for many years where she created dried flower arrangements under glass which were sold at Bailey, Banks, and Biddle in NYC, using many of the flowers from her own yard. Doris was very proud of and loved her family. Her grandchildren describe her as...."faithful, crafty, creative, intellectually curious, spirited, a seamless conversationalist, and called us 'dearie'. A strong woman, stubborn (in a good way), funny with a quick response, a sweet voice, sassy, the person who kept us all connected. She could fuss over the little things but was unwavering in her love for family and friends, energetic, independent, and valued education. Knowledge-seeking about what was going on in the world around her. " She was predeceased in life but reunited in eternity with her husband William F. Hallman, Sr. and their daughter Beth Adelaide Hallman. Survived by her children William F. Hallman, Jr. (predeceased by Jeanette Heiter) of Edgemont, PA, Dorothy (Hallman) and Jack Wright of Media, PA, Dolores (Hallman) Meade of Media, PA, Deborah (Hallman) and Frank Gahres of Framingham, MA, and Melissa (Hallman) and Dwight Keener of Aston, PA. She has 14 grandchildren William Hallman, Jeanette Hallman, Donald Meade (Norma Andrulonis), David Meade (Stacey), Scott Mummert (Rick Beck), Todd Mummert (Athena), Mark Mummert (Soraida), Douglas Mummert (Janet), Jennifer Gahres (Will Burgos), Jeffrey Gahres (Jessica), Daniel Landau-Gahres (Nancy), Anthony DiFiore, Emily DiFiore, and Gillian Keener, as well as numerous great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends. A service will be held in her memory at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Congenital Muscular Dystrophy Community (Collagen VI/XII) at https://www.curecmd.org/donate.