Vera Overholt

Vera created a brilliantly colored tapestry of memories that will be a lasting treasure in the lives of her friends and family. She was engaging, friendly, generous, funny and always tried to bring happiness to the world. As a devoted mother, Vera was happy to see her family tree blossom to include children (Nina and Steve) grandchildren (Clinton, Jason, Erin, Matthew and Samantha) and great-grandchildren (Layla, Fiona, and Charlie). Although life was not always easy for her, Vera was a woman who managed to find the best out of whatever life brought her way.

Born on April 22, 1926 to Russian immigrants, Pete and Tilly (Evanouk) Pirog, Vera was the second of three daughters. Along with her older sister, Olga, and her younger sister, Marie, she was raised on the corner of Second and Garfield on the Westside of Grand Rapids. She was as proud of being of Russian descent as she was to being a life-long "Westsider." She went to Sibley Elementary and graduated from Union High School in 1944.

Vera’s father worked at a tannery on Front Street and her mother focused her attention on being a homemaker. As the prosperity of the 1920s gave way to the 1930s, there were countless challenges as the entire decade was cloaked in the hardship of the “Great Depression.” Nearly every American family felt the strain, and the Pirog family did they best they could to make ends meet. Because of that experience, Vera learned to be thrifty and frugal in ways that would follow her throughout her life.

Throughout her life, Vera was a diligent worker both at home and in the workplace. Her first job was working at a local soda fountain. After high school she took a job as a telephone operator at Michigan Bell and continued to work as a secretary until she retired in 1985.

In 1954 Vera married Al Onuschak. They lived in an apartment on McReynolds where their children Nina and Steve were born. Their marriage later ended in divorce, and Vera became a strong and courageous single parent family. Vera and her children lived in an apartment above her parents on Second Street. Along with working full time, she took care of her children and her aging parents. Later Vera bought her first home on Ball Park Blvd., which was an exciting time for both her and her children. Vera married Ken Overholt in 1967; after which she and her children moved to Caledonia for 4 years. Ken adopted Nina and Steve and even though there were happy times, this relationship also ended and Vera moved back to Grand Rapids.

Vera was an amazing cook whose most requested ethnic dishes included pierogi, golumki, and borscht. She also loved canning tomatoes, pears and grape juice, but her peaches with maraschino cherries were one of her most beautiful canning accomplishments. She tilled a large garden that was filled with tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and raspberries. Planting and nurturing flowers was one of her favorite summer hobbies.

Rarely one to be idle, Vera was an avid reader who often visited the Westside library to pick up novels. As someone who lived a frugal lifestyle, she regularly cut coupons and loved shopping at the bargain racks for her family. Vera enjoyed feeding the birds, listening to country western music, going to musicals and celebrating birthdays at Bill Knapp’s. Her favorite travel destinations were Florida and Las Vegas, and she also had the opportunity to take a Disney Cruise with her son’s family and a memorable trip to Europe with friends.

Later in life Vera continued to embrace the days she was given. She underwent two hip replacements and suffered with congestive heart failure the last few years of her life. When many of her friends moved to Lincoln Square Senior Living, Vera attended several functions there. At the prompting of these friends, she decided moved to Lincoln Lake Square where she became known as the “Mayor of Lincoln Square” for the past 4 years. She made several new friends and participated in playing cards, Pokeno and Bingo whenever possible.

With unending love for her family and friends, Vera Overholt was compassionate, generous and had a wonderful sense of humor that everyone commented on. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Vera Overholt (Pirog), age 88 of Grand Rapids, passed away at her home on Monday, August 11, 2014. She was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Tillie Pirog (Evanouk) and her sister, Olga Pirog. She is survived by her children, Nina and Bob Fox, Steve and Delores Overholt; her grandchildren, Erin (Jeremy) Denhof, Matthew Overholt, Samantha (Ryan) Post, Clinton (Elizabeth) Fox, Jason Fox; her great grandchildren, Layla Denhof, Charlie Denhof, Fiona Post; her sister, Marie (Jerry) Kozminski; and their children, Kathy, Kevin, Kraig and Ken. A service to celebrate Vera’s life will be held on Friday, August 15 at 11:00 AM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW. Relatives and friends may meet her family at the funeral home on Thursday, August 14 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. Contributions in her memory may be made to the VanAndel Institute for Cancer Research. To read more about Vera’s life, or to sign her guest book and to leave your own memory of her, visit her web page at www.lifestorynet.com