Doris Gottwald Jourdan

March 5, 1935 - December 29, 2018

Doris Anne Gottwald Jourdan of Charlotte, died Saturday, December 29, 2018, at the age of 83 while resting comfortably at home. Doris was born in Sayville, Long Island, NY, on March 5, 1935, the daughter of Rudolph Otto and Florence May Giroux Gottwald. Doris loved the arts, she played the piano and violin, enjoyed drawing and painting, sewing, needlework, ballet, tap and acrobatics and even taught her own classes. She studied secretarial skills and after school worked at a local bank, insurance company and as a secretary for an officer at Mitchell Field. But it was right at home, in her own living room that she met William Haynen Jourdan, a handsome sailor in the US Navy. It was a blind double date that lasted a lifetime as Bill and Doris were married on January 5, 1958. Together they were blessed with three children, all born in different states as William’s military service kept them on the move. After retirement from the Navy in 1976, Bill went to work for Duke Power and the family moved to Charlotte where they have been residents since. Doris’ love for painting continued and expanded to include Bill and together they began a small business. Bill handled all the carpentry and Doris, the design and artwork. Together they made furniture and décor and sold items mainly by request and at local craft fairs. Doris was a gifted homemaker and cook who enjoyed cooking and baking for family, events and holidays. And as most who knew her would tell you, this selfless gift of time and effort was always given to anyone who needed it. In addition to her own family, she was very proud to be a member of her church family at St Michael the Archangel Anglican Church. There she was active in the choir and other volunteer work. But through it all, Doris had one main love in life, the time spent with family and friends, and she will be missed by all who knew her. Doris is survived by two children: Peter Jourdan of Charlotte and Patricia Jourdan of Charlotte; a daughter-in-law, Shawn Jourdan; six grandchildren: Andrew Jourdan, Kristen Jourdan, Amanda (husband Ken) Henderson, Christopher Jourdan, Jonathan (wife Amy) Jourdan II and Stephanie (husband David) Strait; and five great grandchildren: Karen, Elizabeth, Aubry, Jonathan III and Giroux. Doris is further survived by her siblings: Dorothy Koch, Carole Iocca, and David Gottwald. Doris was preceded in death by her parents, Rodolph and Florence Gottwald, her brother George Herbert Gottwald, her husband, William Jourdan and son Jonathan Jourdan. A service led by Fr. Michael Cawthon will be held at 3:00pm on Saturday, January 19, 2018, at St. Michael the Archangel Anglican Church, 2211 Margaret Wallace Road. Interment of her cremated remains will follow in the church cemetery. Following those services, a reception will be held in the church hall.