Ona "Jolene" Pearl

Jolene Pearl, 93, of Spring Arbor, passed away peacefully on September 19, 2025, surrounded by her loving family in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She was born on June 12, 1932, in Kennett, Missouri, the daughter of Vernon Burette and Mary Anna (Buck) Ridings. Born during the depression and raised on a farm, she often told stories of picking cotton, gathering eggs, and doing farm and field chores as a child. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in music from Tennessee Temple College. After completing college, she became an elementary teacher. She later received a Doctorate in Education from North Texas State University and had a long successful career in the field of education, as a teacher, principal, and early childhood specialist. In 1980, she moved to Spring Arbor, Michigan, where she taught Elementary Education to college students at Spring Arbor University. She continued to work there until her retirement in 2009.

Jolene is remembered for her consistent, ongoing loving kindness that she shared freely with others. She was patient, kind, thoughtful, and loving. She exemplified and lived the meaning of unconditional love, forgiveness and grace, and always looked for the best in others. She was an active and faithful member of Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church (now the Arbor Church). She loved God, her family, her church and church family. She also loved music and was a lifelong member of various church choirs since she was a child. She continued to share her gift of singing throughout her life even in her later years. She was an avid reader, loved to learn new information and was an active volunteer in the community, including being a faithful volunteer for Gideon's International.

Jolene is survived by her daughter, Rebekah (David) Fatzinger; grandchildren, Robert (Katherine) Oswald, Sarah (Mike) Ballinger, Ruth (Hector) Garcia and Michael Fatzinger; great-grandchildren, Ava Garcia, Sawyer Ballinger, Ryo Garcia, Hudson Ballinger, Luna Garcia and Blake Ballinger; sister, Judy (Nick) Freeman; brother, Gene (Darlene) Ridings; and stepdaughter, Laura (Paul) Pearl.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 33 years, Rodney Allen Pearl, who passed in 2022. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Vernon Burette and Mary Anna Ridings; her son, Mark Stephen Oswald; stepson, Greg (Bernie) Pearl; and sisters, Bonnye Ruth Peel Lucchesi and Patsy Lou Roberston.

Her family will be eternally grateful for her guidance, support, kindness and love, and those special hugs that she gave to others.

The family wishes to express our gratitude and thanks to the staff of North Woods Village Memory Care and Centrica Care Navigators Hospice for their excellent and kind care of Jolene.

Donations can be made to your preferred charity or to Centrica Care Navigators, 7100 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49009.