Doreen Emelia Abel (Churchill)

Doreen “Dee” E. Abel, 88, joined her loving husband, oldest son and grandson in heaven on January 27, 2023. Her family will remember her as the most patient, kind and loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother and mother-in-law they could have ever asked for.
Doreen was born in Detroit, Michigan on October 24, 1934 to Adeline and Joseph Churchill and was one of four siblings. She attended St. Rita’s Catholic School in Detroit with the class of 1950.

After moving to Independence, MO in the 1970's, Doreen worked at several local restaurants as a bartender and manager before retiring to spend time with her family.
She was one of the most creative individuals anyone could meet and many will say that she could turn absolutely nothing into a beautiful work of art. Doreen loved to make handmade porcelain dolls and taught classes in her home workshop, sharing her talents and teaching others. Several of her dolls took high-ranking awards with one of her favorites earning top honors at a national competition. She also enjoyed making beautiful wreaths, glass work, interior decorating, directing her sons on where to plant flowers and build things for her to ensure she had the most beautiful yard on the block, and anything else that meant she could showcase her creative mind. Most days, you could find her in the kitchen cooking delicious meals to share with her large family and anyone else that happened to stop by . As an Italian, her recipes, especially her spaghetti sauce, are ones that many of her family members will try to duplicate, but will never fully succeed as everything was “measured with her heart,” but somehow came out perfect every time.
Doreen married Casmere Zagorski, and together, they had three sons. She later married Ralph Abel Sr., and together, they had two sons.
Doreen was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ralph; her first husband, Casmere; her son, Kim Zagorski; a grandson, Daniel Zagorski; and two siblings, Kenneth and Raymond.
She is survived by her sister, Lori Morris; sons, Ralph Abel Jr., Clifford Abel, Ricky (Diana) Zagorski and Michael (Janet) Zagorski; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; daughter-in-law, Teresa Zagorski; extended family, Andrea Abel, Mary Webb and Sondra Jones; her closest friends Marilee DiMaggio and Sandy Etter; as well as countless other friends.
***Prior to her passing, Doreen expressed her desire to mention her thanks to her sons, as well as, Andrea Abel, Marilee DiMaggio, Stacy Fields, Crystal Vance, Cassidy Arnold and Brianna Abel for helping care for her and giving her the ability to stay home in her final months.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, February 9, 2023 from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at Speaks Suburban Chapel. Funeral will be held Friday, February 10, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. at Speaks Suburban Chapel with burial to follow at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, MO.