Bernadette Marie Palaszek

Bernadette Marie Palaszek, RN, BSN, aged 84, a Grand Rapids native, died Tuesday, August 18, 2015. Bernadette lived her entire life near Sacred Heart of Jesus Church and John Ball Park. She is a graduate of Sacred Heart of Jesus School, Mercy Central School of Nursing (class of 1952) and Michigan State University. Bernadette served her community as a surgical nursing instructor at Mercy Central School of Nursing, St. Mary’s Hospital, nursing supervisor at Kent County Health Department, and volunteer ministry of Holy Communion and coordinator of Ministry to the Elderly at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. She was a caregiver to her parents in their later years. Bernadette leaves many friends with whom she worked or traveled or shared good times. Bernadette was preceded in death by her parents, Stanley and Cecilia (Jankowski) Palaszek, her brothers Edwin and Casimir Francis Palaszek. She is survived by her sisters, Theresa Palaszek-Mancewicz and Sister Mary de Paul; her brother Paul Stanley (Barbara Timmer) Palaszek; nieces and nephews, Michael (Karen) Palaszek, Kristine Palaszek, Mary Kathryn Palaszek, Thomas (Deborah) Palaszek, Mary Margaret (Thomas) Hornyak, Julie (Ruhi) Arslanoglu; grand nieces and nephews, Heather and Chase Palaszek, Mark, Cecilia and Karl Hornyak and many cousins. Bernadette is remembered as faith-filled, generous, caring and a warm person. Cremation has taken place. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, August 25, 2015, at 11:00 am Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, 159 Garfield Ave. SW. The family will share memories with friends one hour prior to the Mass on Tuesday at the church from 10:00 am until the Mass begins at 11:00 am. The family wishes to thank Mercy Health St. Mary’s staff and Trillium Hospice staff for their compassionate and skilled care. Contributions in her memory may be made to Nursing Education Fund at Mercy Health St. Mary's c/o St. Mary's Foundation 200 Jefferson SE Grand Rapids 49503. To leave your own memory of Bernadette and to sign her guest book, visit her web page at www.lifestorynet.com