Doris Mae Rhody

Doris M. Williams Rhody (née Devine) passed away on March 30, 2026, at age 102 at Primrose Retirement Community in Mt. Pleasant, Wisc. She was preceded in death by her first husband, John M. Williams, the father of her daughter MaryPat (Williams) Farrell. Her second husband, Jerry Rhody preceded her in death in 1983.

Doris was born in Hartford South Dakota to parents: Anthony James Devine and Mary Ann Donahue, in a large family of 11 siblings, all of whom are deceased: Vivian Huddle, Mary Margaret Farrington, Vernon Devine, Carlyle Devine, James Devine, Hugh Devine, Harold Devine, Marjorie McDermott, Thomas Devine, John Devine. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

After leaving Hartford, where she grew up during the Great Depression she spent her first college year at St. Theresa’s in Winona MN. When WWII broke out, as a patriot, she joined the Navy Waves as a secretary. At the end of WWII, she went to Creighton University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree as a war veteran under the GI bill. As a patriot & WWII veteran, Doris insisted: Democracy is not a spectator sport. At Creighton she met her future husband, John, also a WW II Navy veteran. While at Creighton, she sang at various social events, as her lifelong dream had been to become an opera singer at the Metropolitan Opera in NY. She treasured her brief marriage to John Williams, raising her daughter as a single mother in the 1950s. Following her husband John’s sudden death in Columbus NE, she went to graduate school at St. Louis University (SLU), obtaining a master’s degree in social work. Her mother moved with her to the St. Louis area to also care for MaryPat while she pursued graduate work.

Following her graduation from SLU she returned to South Dakota as a social worker and briefly taught at Augustana College in Sioux Falls. During that time, she simultaneously was employed as a clinician at the Minnehaha County mental health center. In 1964 she moved to Racine and joined a private practice at the Bacon Clinic, and later worked at Family Services of Racine, which she retired from 37 years ago.

In 1966, she traveled with her brother Tom, who had retired from the Air Force and diplomatic corps, on a round-the-world trip. Their journey took them to Asia, including Hong Kong and Kyoto Japan, Beirut Lebanon, Cairo Egypt, & Ireland, while in Italy she delighted in a small audience with the Pope. As she loved shoes/clothes, she appreciated the opportunity to order custom-made shoes & dresses in the thriving Hong Kong marketplace “for a song”.

Her love of music followed her throughout her lifetime. While she loved to sing, she also delighted in dancing and loved attending musicals and the opera. Out of necessity, she learned how to fix or repair broken items around the home or garden. She took pride in telling stories of the minor plumbing & electrical repairs and gardening work she did on weekends.

Upon retirement, she pursued her love of golf, joining the Golferettes in Racine and played in 2 different golf leagues. When not golfing, she cultivated a hobby in the stock markets and delighted in offering investment advice. Her 3 (successive) post-retirement poodles: Buttons, Lucy and Molly were readily incorporated as de facto family members. As a Wisconsin resident she became a passionate Green Bay Packer fan, offering spirited opinions about various players and coaches.

Years before Frank Sinatra released his 1969 signature song “I Did It My Way” she lived those lyrics with few exceptions throughout her lifetime.

A Mass of Christian Burial, celebrating Doris’s life will be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday April 7, 2026, at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 6400 Spring St, with Rev. Thomas Vathappallil officiating. Relatives and friends are welcome to meet with the family for visitation Tuesday at 10:00 am until time of Mass at church. Private interment will be held at Oak Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Doctors Without Borders (doctorswithoutborders.org)

Doris’ family wishes to thank the immensely compassionate and highly skilled staff at the Primrose Retirement Community in Mt. Pleasant. Special recognition goes to her private caregivers: Emily, Sue, Phoebe, Hailey, Amber and April, whose loving attention and diligence made the last 6 months of her life as comfortable as possible