Phyllis (Dodee) G. Rehler
With a multitude of heavy hearts, we share the passing of our amazing Mother, Dodee. A beloved wife, mother, stepmother, grandmother and friend, passed peacefully at home on Sunday, April 16, 2023, in the arms of her beloved husband, Jan Rehler. What can we really say that people don’t know? Dodee, whose name means “well-loved,” undoubtedly was and most importantly shared her love with so many.
Did you know?
• Dodee was born in Evanston, Illinois, in 1942 to Irving and Miriam Gould the same year U.S. car manufacturers switched from making cars to making bombs, the draft was lowered from 21 to 18, the Manhattan Project Started, Duck or Duct tape was created, and Bing Crosby came out with White Christmas.
• Dodee had two brothers: Michael and half-brother, Billy.
• She went to middle and high school with Harrison Ford.
• Dodee was the first Jewish flight attendant on Delta Airlines during the golden age of flying when flight attendants were glamorous, men and women wore suits and dresses, leg room was plentiful, and the drinks flowed. On one memorable flight, she met Chuck Berry. He said, “Please get me a big stack of napkins and a large coffee because I have a lot of songs to write before we land in Memphis!”
• Dodee lived in Memphis, Tennessee, the day Martin Luther King was assassinated.
• Dodee lived in Corpus Christi, Texas, from 1972 to 2012 when she and Jan moved to Georgetown, Texas.
• She taught Cybill Shepherd despite not being much older.
• Dodee & Jan loved to travel. They often took amazing trips with Road Scholar educational travel and learning adventures to destinations like Russia, Hungary, Greece, Norway, England, Finland, Sweden, Ireland, Denmark, Italy, France, Slovakia, Germany Czech Republic, Wales and Austria.
• She was an amazing cook and inspired generations of “Sheff”ields to pick up the fork and knife to entertain the masses.
• Dodee had an incredible sense of style, instilling in us all to do the same.
• Dodee was high on Emily Post etiquette and famously tortured her grandsons with lessons on how to sit and eat properly. Fondly referred to as the “Enforcer of proper table etiquette”
• Scorpion Slayer - she single handedly saved her grandson Zander from a scorpion’s sting in one fail swoop forever impressing her grandsons with her bravery.
• Dodee and Jan could really tear up a dance floor.
• She was a Mahjong master.
• Our Mother was a true sommelier and had an educated and refined palate.
• Dodee was generous to a fault. No one could compare to the level of detail she put into expressing her love and care for family and friends.
Dodee Rehler is survived by her loving husband, Jan Rehler, daughters, Michelle Sheffield Watson, Leslee Sheffield, and son, Benjamin Sheffield and wife, Lori, stepdaughter-in-law, Kathy Rehler, stepdaughters, Jacque Hernandez and husband, Herbie, Jana Akers and husband, Doug. She had many loving grandchildren, including Evan Johnston, Zander Sheffield, Seth Catron and husband Corey, Matteo Sheffield, Julian Sheffield, James Michael Rehler and wife Emily, Kirsti Gardner and husband Bret, Annie Rehler and fiancée Jordan Vincent, Chris Akers and Leah Akers.
A memorial service is planned in Sun City on Saturday, May 13, 2023, from 3 - 5 p.m. at The Legacy Hills Pavilion 301 Del Webb Boulevard, Georgetown, Texas, 78633. Donations to the American Cancer Society are encouraged.