Bertha D. King

Bertha King, of Novi, Michigan, passed away peacefully on September 7 at the age of 97. She was born in Thessaloniki, Greece, to Cart (Kyriakos Misailides) and Rose (Garifalyia Drosopoulos) Mitchell.

Bertha's birth name was Eleftheria. At 18 months old, she and her mother journeyed to Michigan to join her father, who had come earlier to build a home for his family.

Life presented challenges early. At the age of ten, Bertha and her younger sister were orphaned and placed in the care of the Children's Aid Society, where they lived in foster homes. From these hardships, Bertha developed remarkable resilience. She learned from every household she joined, carrying forward lessons of strength, adaptability, and compassion, and forged relationships that lasted a lifetime.

In time, she met the love of her life, Richard King. The two were married for 49 years until his passing. Together, they raised four sons, taking joy in every moment of their school and athletic activities.

Bertha was a woman of boundless energy and service. She volunteered in voting precincts, census polling, the PTA, and Scouts, and especially valued her years with the Wixom Historical Society. For more than two decades she worked at Glengary Elementary School, where she served as Media Specialist and left a lasting impression on countless students. Many fondly remembered their visits to the library with Mrs. King and "Broderick the Mouse."

Her passions extended to bowling and gardening, where she often earned neighborhood awards, and to her church, where she faithfully served on numerous committees. Even in later years, her adventurous spirit shone through-she once joined a youth group on a white-water rafting trip.

Above all, Bertha was known for her kindness, warmth, and unwavering devotion to others. She touched lives with quiet generosity and became a cherished friend and role model to many.

She is survived by her sons Richard (Kathy), David, Robert, and Matthew (Nicole); grandchildren Megan (Greg) Ristau, Chad (Elli), Brian (Amanda), Jaime (Stephen) Rosenberg, and Colin McGrath; and great-grandsons Tyler, Nathan, Parker, and Julian. She is also survived by her niece, Christina Kittridge, and her son, Brad.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Daisy, her husband Richard Sr., and her daughter-in-law Lisa.

The family offers heartfelt gratitude to her devoted in-home caregivers-Kim, Deborah, Althea, and Joy-whose care allowed Bertha to remain in the comfort of her own home. Their kindness and patience brought peace not only to her but to the entire family. The family also thanks Lindsay, Heidi, Tyler, Jen, and Sade of Luminary Hospice for their compassion and dignity during Bertha's final days.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 18, at Lynch Funeral Home, 340 North Pontiac Trail, Walled Lake (3 Blks. S. of Maple Rd.from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. The funeral will follow on Friday, September 19, at Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church, 2905 South Commerce Rd. in Wolverine Lake at 11:00 a.m., with visitation beginning one hour earlier.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Bertha King's name to:

Shepherd of the Lakes Choir and Fellowship Fund

or A charity of your choice.