Obituary of Elvira Margaret Gayer
Elvira Margaret “El” Dohanyos was born on February 24, 1925, in the Delray neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. She was the only daughter of three children born from the union of Andrew and Margaret (Fedor) Dohanyos. As a young girl, El would take employment as a soda jerk, and as an assistant manager at the Grande Theatre in Delray. She was a graduate of Southwestern High School.
El would meet the love of her life, Mathew Gayer, and they were joined in marriage on May 29, 1946. After their nuptials, she took employment in the billing department of a local trucking company. El valued her family above all else and upon the birth of their third child, she left the workforce and concentrated on her role as a homemaker. This afforded her the opportunity to keep her house in order and allowed her to have a meal prepared for her family each and every day.
El was quite proud of her Hungarian heritage. To remain true to her roots she learned to cook in the traditional ways. Of course, her family benefited the most from this dedication, and all agreed she was an outstanding cook, especially making the finest paprikas and stuffed cabbage dinners. El knew the best way to complete her meals was with a delicious made-from-scratch pastry.
In her free time, El enjoyed crocheting, quilting and embroidery. She was quite talented gifting many of her creations to her family to enjoy. More than anything, El loved and adored her family. She treasured the time they all could spend together whether they were gathered around the table or just settled on the couch cushions.
Elvira Margaret Gayer, age 97, of Southgate, passed away peacefully at 9:40am on Friday; September 16, 2022, at FountainView of Monroe. She had been under the care of Elara Caring Hospice and surrounded by her loving family. Her passing was preceded by her parents; her husband of fifty-seven years: Mathew who passed in 2003; a brother: John Dohanyos; an infant brother: Andrew; an infant son: Mathew Gayer; and a grandson: Jason Gayer.
To cherish her memory, she leaves a daughter: Sharon (Jim) Anteau; a son: Mark (Diane) Gayer; two grandchildren: James “Jimmy” (Erin Devlin) Anteau and Amy (Carlos) Collier; four great grandchildren: Aiden and Annabelle Anteau, Baron Collier and Ryleigh Hevner.
Private graveside services and burial have taken place at Michigan Memorial Park Cemetery; 32163 West Huron River Drive, Flat Rock, Michigan 48134. Arrangements have been entrusted to Merkle Funeral Service, North Monroe; 2442 North Monroe Street, Monroe, Michigan 48162 (734) 384-5185.
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