Dolores Kenoshmeg Thomas

Dolores Kenoshmeg Thomas, age 80, citizen of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa, walked on Tuesday, October 1, 2024. Dolores is survived by her only daughter, Belinda Bardwell; Belinda’s four children, Paige (Thomas) and husband William Ramirez, Neely, Noodin, and Niiwin Bardwell; her brother Don Kenoshmeg; and her older sister Pauline Bowers. She is preceded in death by her parents, Enos and Edna (Parkey) Kenoshmeg, and her sisters, Thelma Jankowski, Rita Blumke, Shirley Lark, and Arlene Boggs. Dolores was born and raised in Petoskey, MI. Once she graduated from Petoskey High School, she moved down to Detroit for work. She recounted stories of being the best typist for her employers, ending her 22 year career with the State of Michigan at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. Dolores moved to Wyoming, MI where she started a family and raised her daughter, who she was tremendously proud of. While she resided in the Grand Rapids, MI area, Dolores worked at the Grand Rapids Inter Tribal Council and attended weekly elder’s meals. She enjoyed her retirement years in St. Augustine, FL, where she was involved with the Council on Aging in St. Johns County, FL, and, as a devout Catholic, volunteered with the local Catholic church. She always was interested in home improvement and saving old homes. She worked hard to buy a fixer-upper cottage in Harbor Springs, MI, where her and her family spent weekends and summers. Those around her remember various yard parties thrown at the cottage. Later, she bought another fixer-upper home in St. Augustine, where she fell in love with the historic town and lived out most of her days after retirement. Her family remembers her as an extremely hard working woman, a loving mother and after her grandchildren were born, a devoted grandmother. Dolores was always determined to ensure her family and those close to her were well taken care of. She was truly the matriarch of the Thomas family. Per her wishes, Dolores will be cremated. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday October 4, 2024, at 1:00 pm at the Arsulowicz Brothers East Mortuary, 937 Michigan St. NE where her family will receive visitors from 12:00 pm to1:00 pm at the funeral home. She will be buried next to her beloved mother and father at the Saint Francis Cemetery in Emmet County, MI.

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Dolores Kenoshmeg Thomas

February 25, 1944 - October 1, 2024