Profiles of Faith at FBC Norwich

FBC Profiles of Faith - #2

Everyone knew Doris Sandberg Royce. She was the energetic white haired saint who greeted us all as we came into the sanctuary and took our seat. In her later years, Doris became our church historian. She had served as the Church Clerk for twenty years and she compiled lists and put together quite a collection of memorabilia. She organized and classified and prepared several folders and books for us that chronicled our history. Even more than that though, she was a living historical record. She knew everyone and could tell you how they were connected to the church and when they came in.

You see Doris grew up on the West Side and was coming to the church even before she could remember coming. Her mother, Amanda, was widowed and left to raise six girls and a boy on her own. The first priority for Amanda Sandberg was to see that all her children attended Sunday School and Church every week.

After Doris graduated from Norwich Free Academy she married her childhood sweetheart, Leonard Royce. Shortly thereafter they started a family. She stayed at home and raised the four children. Meanwhile she began teaching in the Sunday School at church and started volunteering as a Den Mother and visiting in the schools. This love for her family and involvement in their lives continued even after each had grown and started families of their own. She then invested her life in the grandchildren and their affairs.

At church Doris was involved in almost every aspect of Christian service. She worked in the Guild and at various suppers and programs. She served in the Executive Council and as I noted earlier, as church clerk. When there was a job to be done, Doris was always more than willing to fill the need. She was a friend to the homeless and the children, more generous to their plight than she should have been.

Doris never served as an official greeter on Sunday mornings, but she was probably the most well known and sought after person in the sanctuary. As people entered, they they looked for her. She was an adopted grandmother to many of the children, often bringing them little goodies and a hug.

Doris loved our church and we loved her. Today every time the piano in the sanctuary is played, we can think of her because it was given in memory of her and Leonard. Now the song of love that was in her heart continues to waft through our sanctuary in this living memorial.

Cal