Bernadette Eckerle Died May 6, 2016

Bernadette Eckerle

Died May 6, 2016

SUTTONS BAY – A most loving wife, mother and grandmother, Bernadette Eckerle, 65, of Suttons Bay, passed away on Friday, May 6, 2016, at her home.

Bernadette was born on Oct. 4, 1950, in Lake Leelanau, the daughter of Rutherford and Fayemarie (Nester) Belanger. She graduated in 1968 as the valedictorian from St. Mary High School of Lake Leelanau. On Feb. 15, 1969 at St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Lake Leelanau, she married Thomas R. Eckerle, who survives.

Tom was the love of her life and her caregiver for the past several years when her sarcoidosis, a lung condition, became more challenging. In February 2016, they celebrated 47 years of marriage and are an example to their family and others about love and commitment. Before she and Tom started their family, Bernie worked at Empire National Bank.

Bernie’s family was her life. She was a loving wife, committed mother to her six children and a loving, doting grandmother to her 20 grandchildren (with one on the way). Her warm, kind demeanor and love for life was felt by all who crossed her path. She was deeply proud of her children and kept closely connected to them all.

In her younger years, Bernie loved to dance. She was an avid scrapbooker and loved all things “cherry” from the beautiful Leelanau County area where she was born and lived her entire life. The family home was situated amid a cherry orchid which Tom farmed for many years. She was an avid reader and enjoyed puzzles. She would look forward to annual trips with her cousins and sisters for weekend girls’ getaways where they shared many laughs and fun times.

Bernie was a committed member of Lake Leelanau’s St. Mary Parish and her Christian faith was closely intertwined with her daily life, in her actions, how they raised their children and how she treated others. She was one of the kindest women you could know, making everyone she met feel welcome and comfortable. You could see the love of her family in everything she did.

Above all else, Bernie was the ideal mother and grandmother. Each child and grandchild felt special in her presence; she was even present for the birth of her granddaughter, Zaidee. Bernie never forgot a birthday or special event, and loved her grandchildren with her full heart: Bailey, Brooke, Schafer; Joshua, Timothy and Rachel; Erin, Ethan, and step-grandsons Evan and Drew; Zaidee, Michael and baby Howell on the way, step-grandsons Dominic and Bobby, and step-granddaughters Abby and Maria; and McKinna, Ashlyn, Kolton and Sophie. They will greatly miss their grandmother’s loving hugs and kisses.

In addition to her grandchildren and husband of 47 years, Tom, Bernadette is survived by her children, Christopher Allen (Gretchen), Jeffrey Michael (Lisa), Brian John (Beth), Kirk Joseph (Kendra Deering), Stephanie Faye (Matthew) McFadden, and Emily Marion (Matthew) Howell; siblings, Ron (Mary) Belanger, Paulette Hanley, Janice (Everett) Lautner, Jean Ann Broad, Dwight (Marty) Belanger, Damian Belanger, and Gerard (Lori) Belanger; 19 nieces and nephews, godchildren and very special family friends.

She was preceded in death by her infant brother, Johnny; sister-in-law, Beth Ann; and her parents.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 12, from 5 to 8 p.m. with a 7 p.m. Rosary at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay. The funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, May 13 at 11 a.m. with a visitation held one hour prior at St. Mary Church, Lake Leelanau.  Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Right to Life at St. Mary Church, P.O. Box 340, Lake Leelanau, MI 49653.

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