Brenda Marie (Nemedi) Carl

Brenda Marie (Nemedi) Carl of Kalamazoo, Michigan


Brenda, age 82, died peacefully at Kairos Dwelling in Kalamazoo on Saturday evening, February 20, 2016, with her entire family at her side.

The daughter of Arthur J. and Iva M. (Cramer) Nemedi, Brenda was born in Kalamazoo on March 18, 1933. She was a lifelong area resident and a 1951 graduate of the Nazareth Academy of Kalamazoo.

A well-regarded seamstress for numerous area clothiers, Brenda had worked as a receptionist for Gull Road Medical and had volunteered for many years at Borgess Medical Center of Kalamazoo. She was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church of Augusta, and thoroughly enjoyed sewing, crocheting, cooking, baking, tending gardens and riding the Gator around the family's Richland Township property. But her true passion in life centered on her faith, husband, children and grandchildren.

She met the love of her life when she was about ten years old and by the time she turned 14 knew that she wanted to be with him forever. She once saw him standing in the schoolyard and said to her friends, "See that boy over there? I'm going to marry him someday." And, true to her word, she did. Brenda was united in marriage to Ronald Joseph Carl at St. Augustine Catholic Church of Kalamazoo on June 14, 1952.

Surviving are her loving husband of 63 years, Ron; three daughters, Diane M. Carl of Delton, MI, Janet K. (Roy) Tyler of Constantine, MI, and Julie A. (John) Ehlich of Grand Rapids, MI; four sons, Daniel J. (Tami) Carl of Kalamazoo, Michael A. (Mary) Carl and James R. (Janice) Carl, both of Richland, MI, and Thomas R. Carl of Gaylord, MI; nineteen grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. Brenda was preceded in death by her parents.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 25th , at St. Ann Catholic Church, 12648 East D Avenue, Augusta, with Bishop Paul J. Bradley, Presiding; Monsignor Michael A. Osborn, Celebrant; Father Christopher J. Derda, ConCelebrant and Brenda's son, Deacon Michael A. Carl, Assisting. Immediately following the Mass, family and friends will gather in St. Ann Social Hall to continue Brenda's life celebration with a time of fellowship and a luncheon. Interment will follow the luncheon at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Kalamazoo, and everyone is invited to join the family at the cemetery. Brenda's family will greet friends from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 24th at the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home and Cremation Care, Richland Chapel, 9170 East D Avenue (M-89), where the Parish Rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Brenda's honor may be directed to Kairos Dwelling, 2945 Gull Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49048, or The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, 4597 Warren Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105.