It is with great sorrow we announce that Dolores Catherine Bernard (Dee) passed away in her sleep on May 8th at the age of 92 after a lengthy 4-year battle recovering from a serious car accident.
Born April 14, 1929 in Grand Rapids, Dolores was a graduate of Mount Mercy High School. She took classes at University of Michigan and Kendall College of Art before marrying and raising her children. She had a 27-year career with the Gantos Corporation where she was responsible for sales auditing nationwide and retired as head of daily business.
Dee was a talented artist and could always be found working on a new project. She created many exquisite outfits for family members, ceramics, doll-making, photographs, and extraordinary memory books. Most recently, she excelled at 1000-piece puzzles and crosswords. Dee loved living on the water and all the wildlife it brought, gardening, her bird feeders and adored dog, Buddy. She was an excellent cook who created a cookbook of favorite family recipes. She was an avid reader and frequent visitor to the library. Dee was also a beloved friend whose home was always open to friends and family including life-long friends Mary Donna DarcAngelo and Dilly O’Hern. neighbors Lil Langon and Clara Gilmore were wonderful companions.
She is survived by her children, Marcia Ager, Paula Welmers (Todd), Ellen Bernard, Leonard Thomas Bernard, Martin Bernard and Mary Ruth Bernard; grandchildren, Dr. Lindsay Malloy (Ian), Austin Malloy, Conor Malloy (Olivia), Mara Vallee (Scott), Anna Millich, Joseph Welmers (Charlene), Marcus Ager and Miles Ager; great-grandchildren Leo Jones, Hope Jones and Arden Vallee; brother, James Starr (Marlene); sister, Mary Starr; special nephews, Matt Starr (Ashley) and Martin Starr in addition to many cherished nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Eleanor (Ayers) Starr; sisters, Nancy Williams and Marcia Biermacher; brothers, Martin Starr and Thomas Starr; infant granddaughter, Katherine Welmers; and special friend, Rich Westlitis.
The family would like to give special thanks to her amazing hospice professionals – Amanda, Crystal, and Haley for their compassion, patience, and skilled assistance.
Visitation will be Thursday, May 13, 2021 from 6-8 pm at O’Brien-Eggebeen-Gerst Chapel with Rosary at 5:45pm. Mass of Christian burial will be 11:00 am Friday, May 14, 2021 at St Robert of Newminster Catholic Church with final interment at Resurrection Cemetery in Wyoming, MI. Rev. Leonard Sudlik presiding. Masks and social distancing will be required at all locations.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Michigan, Donation Processing Center, 989 Spaulding Ave. SE, Ada, MI 49301.