Amelia Comer

A down to earth, straightforward, and hardworking woman, Amelia Comer lived life to the fullest each and every day. She was gracious, kindhearted, and selfless when it came to her loved ones, and her spirit of compassion extended to all who were within her reach. Amelia was blessed to share the majority of her life with a man who adored her and they shared a trusting, loving bond. Throughout the years she was filled with unspeakable joy to witness her family tree blossom to include the grandchildren she treasured. Guided by an unwavering faith, Amelia’s courage and strength were truly inspirational. Amelia was a woman who loved her church and stated belief in “Almighty God”. She did not fear death as she believed in heaven and knew that she would once again be united with the family that left this earth. She loved her Lord and followed the commandments and was honest and loyal. Although she will be deeply missed, her timeless legacy will be proudly carried on by those who follow in her footsteps.

The 1930s were very much defined by the Great Depression that blanketed our nation throughout the entire decade. A declining job market led to a rising unemployment rate while things only went from bad to worse with a crippling drought that gripped our nation’s heartland for nearly two years. Despite the trials around them, a young couple from Lansing, Michigan, was delighted to welcome a healthy baby girl into their hearts and home on May 17, 1932. Amelia Ellen was the youngest of three children born to her parents, Benjamin and Nancy Toomey, and she was raised alongside her siblings, Elaine and Gilbert. Her mother was a strong woman and a savvy business woman who had immigrated to the United States on her own. As a girl Amelia and her mother went to her mother’s homeland of Lebanon for visits. Her father worked as a barber.

In many ways Amelia was a young woman of her generation. She was raised primarily in Lansing where she attended school and graduated from high school. Amelia was a bright student who excelled in her studies and also loved tap dancing. Amelia and her family moved to the Kalamazoo area where her parents owned rentals and a restaurant. For a time they lived in Otsego. Amelia worked hard from her earliest years. After graduating from high school she took a job in packaging at Georgia Pacific when she was around the age of 20. Amelia went on to build an entire career there, working her way up to becoming an inspector before retiring after more than 40 years of service. She did excellent work and was very proud of her accomplishments.

New and exciting changes were in store for Amelia when she met the man of her dreams. He was a young southern boy named Jeff, and they met in a restaurant owned by Amelia’s mother in 1955. Sparks flew right from the start, and they began dating. With a desire to establish a life together Amelia and Jeff were married in 1958 in Kalamazoo.

After a honeymoon at Niagara Falls, the newlyweds returned home and settled in Kalamazoo in the student area. They later moved to Otsego near the family restaurant as they all helped in the day to day operations. They later moved to the Comstock area. Together Amelia and Jeff were blessed with the births of three children, Linda, Elora, and Lisa. She was an extraordinary mother who deeply loved her children. Over time grandchildren arrived, and Amelia couldn’t have been happier.

The matriarch of her family, Amelia just made everything work. After moving to Long Lake during their retirement years, they continued to have projects going around the house as wherever they lived they were always making changes and adding bedrooms to make more space for the growing family. Amelia was the one who hosted all the gatherings and events, and she was an extraordinary cook. She usually made southern food for Jeff and Lebanese food like Spinach pies in keeping with her heritage. With endless ideas, it was Amelia who came up with whatever projects they were doing around the house, and Jeff just went along for the ride. Gardening was another hobby, and she had the most beautiful roses to show for her effort.

Although she loved being home, Amelia also loved being on the go. They traveled all over from the time they were raising their children well into their sunset years. They had campers and later graduated to a motor home and belonged to a camping club. Some of their most memorable trips were to the Grand Canyon, New York, Florida and many trips to Alabama. Cruising was also something that Amelia enjoyed and traveling to the many natural wonders of the United States. After retiring they often took the motorhome down to Florida during the winter, and during the summer months they camped near the South Haven area. The holidays were Amelia’s favorite time of year as she could satiate her love for shopping all the more. In fact, she was such a regular at Sam’s Club that they knew her by name! For years she and Jeff were members of Centre Avenue Church of God in Portage. Simple car rides were a favorite activity as well, even into her last days.

Amelia loved older music from Elvis Presley and Rod Stewart, but any pop music with a good beat that she could dance to was just fine. One of her favorite hymns was Amazing Grace. Amelia loved classic movies like Gone with the Wind and television shows such as I Love Lucy, Andy Griffith, All in the Family were favorites.

As they got older Amelia and Jeff began having health issues to deal with. It was Amelia who cared for him after his stroke, which was not easy as he had several medications to keep track of as well. On July 26, 2011, she was deeply saddened with his death. Although Amelia had been showing signs of dementia, her symptoms became much more prominent after Jeff’s death. Just this past July she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Amelia did her best to remain active and never complained about the pain. Her faithful dog Taz remained by her side until the end.

All who knew Amelia Comer would agree that she was truly beautiful on the inside and out. She could be strong willed when she felt passionately about something, but she was also one of the most gracious and kindhearted people around, especially when it came to animals. Amelia’s love and devotion to her family was unmatched as she lived to love and nurture her husband, children, and grandchildren. She will never be forgotten. In the garden of life, a Mother is the most beautiful flower of all.

Amelia Comer died on December 1, 2014. Amelia’s family includes her children: Linda E. Comer, Elora (Tim) Meisling, and Lisa Awad; grandchildren: Nicholas, Jalal, Zaina, Zak and Salam; special nephew, Ben Toomey (Linda Bradfield); and many other nieces, nephews, and friends as well as her dog, Taz. Amelia was preceded in death by her husband, Jeff; parents; sister, Elaine Kudelski; and brother, Gilbert Toomey. Friends may join the family for a brief service at Fort Custer National Cemetery, Battle Creek, MI on Friday, December 5, 2014, at 2:30 p.m. There will be no visitation. A luncheon will immediately follow at Centre Ave. Church of God, 1917 E. Centre, Portage, MI. Memorials may be made to an Animal Rescue Organization of your choice. Please visit Amelia’s personal memory page at www.lifestory.net where you can archive a favorite memory or photo of her and sign her online guestbook. Arrangements by Life Story Funeral Homes, Betzler – Kalamazoo; 6080 Stadium Drive (375-2900).