Honoring Tradition.
Celebrating Life.

Bernadette Chendes

October 15, 1932 - September 16, 2022
Grand Rapids, MI

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Memorial Mass

Saturday, October 8, 2022
10:00 AM EDT
Cathedral of St. Andrew
215 Sheldon Blvd SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 456-1454
Map
Web Site

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

The Capuchin Soup Kitchen
PO Box 772091
Detroit, MI 48277
Web Site

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Ball Park Floral
8 Valley Ave.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 459-3409
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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Bernadette (Bernie) was a 1958 Registered Nurse graduate of Mercy School of Nursing of Detroit @ Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital. She practiced nursing for many years starting at the hospital and the Advance Nursing Center in Inkster, Michigan before retiring from Hawthorne Center in Northville, Michigan.As a single parent with five active daughters she was known to relax by doing crafts or listening to Detroit Tiger baseball broadcasts. Bernie had a great sense of humor and a kind heart.

Bernie's nieces, nephews and cousins were very near and dear to her heart. Many Christmas holidays were spent with the Dillon family, while trips up to Onekama to visit the Foley's made for great summer memories. Bernie loved her children and grandchildren. She loved watching them play at her home as well as watch when they played sports as they got older.

Bernie loved wool rug hooking, basket weaving, needlepoint, crocheting and knitting. She spent time with her sister Delphine going to rug hooking conferences to improve her craft and shared many rugs with her family. She also loved to read, play board games and do puzzles. Bernie enjoyed going on vacation to St Augustine Florida to visit her sister.

After her own children were grown she reunited with a high school friend at a class reunion, Albert Chendes. They fell in love and married on February 17th, 1996. For many years they enjoyed traveling, reading, visiting the children and grandchildren. They loved watching sporting events. One of their favorite summer activities was boating on Coldwater lake and relaxing at their summer cottage.

CHENDES – Bernadette Leona Chendes age 89, of Grand Rapids and formerly of Detroit, passed away on September 16, 2022. She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert M. Chendes; son-in-law, Kenneth Pitts; parents, Albert and Anne Jacobs; and sister, Delphine (Martin) Foley. Bernadette is survived by her children, Pegi (Mike) Williams of Katy, TX, Lisa Pitts of O’Fallon, MO, Karen (Charles) Scholten of Hudsonville, Lauren (Philip) Kane of Farmington Hills and Sheila (Mark) Holleman of Grand Rapids; grandchildren, Colin Williams, Nicole Perez, James Pitts, Dylan, Travis and Derek Scholten, John Kane, Harvey, Kendall, Evelyn and Henry Holleman; 3 step-grandchildren, Kenneth (Tracie) Williams, Dana DeVerney and Brittney Williams; and 3 step-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are many cousins, nieces, nephews and life-long friends. A Memorial Mass will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, October 8, 2022 at the Cathedral of St. Andrew, 215 Sheldon Blvd SE, Grand Rapids, MI. Contributions in her memory may be made to The Capuchin Soup Kitchen, PO Box 772091 Detroit, MI 48277. Please visit www.heritagelifestory to submit a favorite memory, photo or to sign the guestbook.

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