Doris Naomi Lynch

February 2, 1936 - July 5, 2022

Vallejo, CA

A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, Doris Naomi Lynch will be remembered for her playful sense of humor, her statuesque beauty, and her love of family and food.

Born February 2, 1936 in New Orleans, LA, Doris was the eldest child of Howard Joseph, a construction worker, and Elert Joseph (née Benoit) a homemaker who later worked for the US Forest Service.

In 1943, Elert and Howard relocated to Vallejo, CA with Doris, her younger sister Heraleen, and Howard’s mother, Louise Joseph Grigsby.

As kids, Doris and Heraleen enjoyed listening to suspenseful radio dramas like The Shadow and spent much of their time riding bikes, playing baseball with other kids in their Chabot Terrace neighborhood, and going to the movies - for nine cents! Recalling what Doris was like as a kid, Heraleen says, “In school, she’d fight at the drop of a hat.” According to Heraleen, the other kids knew if you wanted to set Doris off, you just had to say anything about her Mama. “And then,” says Heraleen, “she would just start swinging!”

Doris graduated from Vallejo High School in 1954. Two years later, Doris, Heraleen, their parents, and younger sister, Sharon, who was born a few years earlier, relocated to Berkeley. Sharon has fond memories of their early days in Berkeley, sitting on the kitchen counter while Doris and Heraleen cooked fudge or tamales. She also remembers tagging along with her sisters to Reid Records where they’d buy albums and mats with instructions for the latest dances.

In 1956, Doris met the love of her life, John Lynch, at a Memorial Day weekend picnic in San Jose’s Alum Rock Park. John has always told the story that Doris whisked him away from all the party attendees before the other girls got a chance to see him. Doris, who loved to eat, joked that couldn’t be true, because she wouldn’t have walked away from the food table. “She didn’t eat that day,” maintains John. “I didn’t either. We just talked and talked. Neither one of us had ever talked to anyone that much. She was very beautiful and so tall and graceful, but it was her sense of humor that won me over.”

Doris and John married at St. Columba Catholic Church in Oakland in 1958, and settled in San Francisco. The loving couple soon welcomed a son, Darryl; who tragically preceded his mother in death the following year. Doris and John continued growing their family, welcoming daughter, Diane; son, Carlton; and several years later, daughters, Sheila and Jennifer.

As a young wife and mother, Doris was very outgoing and enjoyed spending time with her family, bowling with John, and being an active member in her social club, Les Femmes. Through Les Femmes, Doris planned and participated in events like parties and fashion shows with many of her dear friends including Margie Morris and Dorothy Strickland.

In 1980, Doris returned to Vallejo and put down roots with John and their four children. In Vallejo, Doris became a member of St. Basil’s Church, where Sheila and Jennifer attended school. The Lynch home on Louisiana Street quickly became a bustling center of activity for extended family and friends - the kind of place where you could count on Jimmy Dean sausage and biscuits in the morning, and a pitcher of Kool-Aid in the fridge at all times.

In 1995, Doris retired from her almost 40-year career with the federal government and lovingly embraced her role as full-time grandmother to granddaughters, Rajennae and Cydnee; for whom her love was immeasurable. And just last year, Doris became a great-grandmother with the birth of Rajennae’s son, Camari.

From 2020 until her passing, Doris was blessed with the capable and loving care of Maneka Jordan and Michele Johnson.

On July 5, 2022, Doris peacefully ascended from this Earth surrounded by her four children as well as her daughter-in-spirit, Stacey Patrick (Leroy).

Doris is preceded in death by her son, Darryl; and her beloved parents, Howard, who died in 1963 and Elert, who lived a long, love-filled life until her death in 2009 at 92 years young.

Doris is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, John; her children, Diane, Carl, Sheila and Jennifer Lynch; grandchildren, Cydnee Mason (Anthony) and Rajennae Edmonson; great-grandson, Camari; sisters, Heraleen Broome and Sharon Herbst (Chuck); dear nephews, Gregory (Shannon) and Eric (Angel) Broome; nieces, Niki and Sabrina Ford; as well as a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Doris’s loved ones are committed to keeping her memory alive and continuing to celebrate her extraordinary life for the rest of our days.

A visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 21 at Twin Chapels Mortuary, 1100 Tennessee St., Vallejo. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 22 at St. Basil’s Catholic Church, 1200 Nebraska St. Vallejo. Burial will follow at All Souls Cemetery, Vallejo.

Arrangements entrusted to the direction and care of Twin Chapels Mortuary, Vallejo (707) 552-6696.

www.TwinChapelsMortuary.com