Bernice Nellie Oele

Bernice “Bernie” Oele (Timinskis), age 97, of Belmont, started the morning of Wednesday, May 8, 2024 insisting to her aides that she would go to the dining room for breakfast. She ended the day having an evening coffee in heaven, reunited with her husband of 67 years, Lawrence.

Bernie lived a full life of 97 years and 11 months. She was a resident of Belmont for over 75 years and Englewright Lake for over 60 years. Bernie loved gardening, shopping and garage sales. She devoted hundreds of hours to babysitting her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, filling college supply boxes and having New Year’s Eve parties to rival Times Square for them. She was known for her Christmas tray of baked treats that everyone loved. She and Lawrence hosted yearly Fourth of July reunions at the cottage where food and fun were always abundant.

She worked for 18 years at Meijer on Plainfield making friends of coworkers and customers alike.

She will be lovingly remembered by her children, Gail Rapp, Mike and Jean Oele, Sandi and Kurt Schuiling; 9 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; sister, Florence Scheidel, sisters-in-law, Shirley Flikkema and Ruth and Jim McKellar.

The family would like to thank all the caring staff at The Oaks especially Ashley, Erin, the 2 Amandas, ReHema, Keeli, Teresa, Nicole and Michelle for their loving attention to our mother. We would also like to thank Kayla from Faith Hospice for her guidance and great assistance during the past months. Bernie felt loved and safe in their care.

Funeral services will be at 11 am on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at MKD Stegenga Funeral Chapel, 1601 Post Drive NE, Belmont, with Chaplain Cecilio Reyna officiating. Burial will take place at Rosedale Memorial Park Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet the family on Monday, from 6-8 pm at the funeral home and on Tuesday, prior to the service from 10-11 am. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to North Kent Connect.