Colleen Ann Turmell

Colleen passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Friday, May 31, 2024 at her residence in Bay City at the age of 87. She was born to the late Roy and Irene (Nowaczyk) VanSumeren on February 9, 1937 in Bay City. She was a member of Corpus Christi Parish and loved volunteering at the St Vincent de Paul food pantry. She was the youngest of 5 and family was the most important thing to her. She enjoyed her family gatherings, especially around the holidays. She loved singing, gardening, showing off her flowers, writing poems for others, going strawberry picking and shopping with the girls, she was always dressed so nicely. Colleen lived a long happy and healthy life and was young at heart. She also liked to cook, using her favorite recipes, and eating corn on the cobb, one of her favorite foods. She thoroughly enjoyed dressing up every Halloween in her own creative homemade costumes.

She was a beautiful caring person that always put others before herself. With a smile on her face and a heart of gold she was available to help everyone without hesitation. She had a positive attitude toward everything, her patience was a treasure, and she was the most welcoming person we knew. Words cannot express how blessed we feel, and how grateful we are to her, for the person she was. She set the best examples with her respectfulness towards others, years of hard work, and showing us how to live the best life.

Colleen met her husband, Joseph Turmell, of 13 years later in life at Church. They enjoyed doing puzzles together, having 5 o’clock wine time on the porch and enjoyed sitting by the fire with a cup of coffee and newspaper in hand every Sunday.

Colleen is survived by her husband, Joseph Turmell; children, Debbie Rau, Tim (Maricris) Dupree, Dawn (Fred) Schwab, Dave (Monica) Dupree and Karen Withey (Paul Radzwilowicz); step-children, Mark (Maria) Turmell and Nancy Richards; grandchildren, Lexi (Kyle), James (Beth), Andrew, Mike (Lauren), Matt (Carley), Eric (Brittny), Heather (Mike), Marty, Sean, Delaney (Clay), Parker, and Jesse (Brandon); great grandchildren, Mila, Easton, Lucas, Remi, Stephan, Bella, Brady, Charlotte, Emily, Jack and Ben; sister-in-law, Shirley VanSumeren and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her former husband of 52 years, Norman Dupree with whom she created a beautiful family, six children, and lifelong memories; daughter, Diane Hodge and siblings, Roy VanSumeren, Harold VanSumeren, Dick VanSumeren and Joanne Richter.

The family would like to extend a very special thank you to the staff at MyMichigan Hospice for the care and compassion they showed during this difficult time.

Funeral Liturgy for Colleen will take place on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Corpus Christi Parish with interment to follow at St. Patrick’s Cemetery. The Celebrant will be Rev. Fr. Bert Gohm. The family will be present to receive visitors on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at Gephart Funeral Home from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Wednesday at the Church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Mass. A Vigil Service for Colleen will be taking place on Tuesday at the funeral home at 7:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Corpus Christi Parish.