This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: WHL44 Surnames: BLESSING, VANDYKE, KREMER, LEWIS, SEXTON, KEIJZER, DEJONG, DAM, TIO, BROEKENS, BRAAM, VANDERPOT Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.michigan.counties.kalamazoo/25903/mb.ashx Message Board Post: BLESSING, Mrs. Berta "Bea" M. Portage, MI Died Tuesday morning, March 2, 2010 in Elkhart, Indiana. Bea was born August 23, 1925 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands a daughter of Antonius and Klazina (VanDyke) Kremer. She had been a Kalamazoo area resident since 1993 and was a member of the St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church. Berta was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Ron Blessing; and a sister, Lies. On November 22, 1949, she was united in marriage to Jacobus "Jack" A. Blessing who survives. Also surviving, six children, Lawrence (Jan) Blessing of Hastings, Marcella (Mark) Lewis of East Grand Rapids, Patricia (James) Sexton of Kalamazoo, Duane (Sandi) Blessing of Kalamazoo, Stephen (Debbie) Blessing of Denver, CO, and Thomas (Loretta) Blessing of Bristol, IN; 13 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a sister, Antonia (Antonio) Keijzer of The Netherlands; two nieces, Ineke (Jan) DeJong and Mieke (Antonio) Dam, Leo (Rita) Keijzer; and the rest of her extended family, Frits (Joyce) Blessing, Josee (Jan) Tio, M! ieke (Marten) Broekens, Caroline (Peter) Braam, Anky (Ronald) van der Pot-Blessing and all of the other nieces, nephews and cousins Bea loved so much. A funeral Mass will be held 10:30 Saturday at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 1150 W. Centre Ave. There will be no visitation. Private burial will take place at a later date. Memorials may be directed to Family & Children's Services Adoption Program. Arrangements were made by the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick St. www.langelands.com 343-1508 Published in Kalamazoo Gazette on March 5, 2010 (Posted by a VOLUNTEER-NO family connection) Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.