MICHIGAN POLIO
NETWORK, INC

POST POLIO RESOURCES

More
  • Homepage
  • Contact us
  • Support Groups
  • SEM SupportGroup
  • PPS Clinics/Physicians
  • Professional Services
  • Polio Stories
    • Tim Brown
    • Mike Davis
    • Dianne Dych
    • Edith Grinnell
    • Daniel Matakas
    • Kathleen Navarre
    • Bonnie Levitan
    • Barb Oniszczak
    • Bruce Sachs
    • Jerry Hazel
    • Phyllis M Peters
    • Anne Erlebach
    • Donald Straith
    • Cathleen Casey
    • Al Manente
    • M May
    • Submit a story
  • Polio Perspectives
  • In Memory of
  • Enteroviruses 101
  • Archive
    • Membership
    • 2013 Conference
    • 2011 Conference
      • Page 1
      • Page 2
      • Page 3
      • Page 4
    • Financial Results
    • Library
    • LunchnLearn
    • OUWB
    • Ongoing Projects
  • Lifestyle Modifications
  • Anesthesia Concerns
  • Bay Cliff Wellness
  • Brace Maintenance
  • Did You Know?
  • Late Effects of Polio
  • Polio: A Look Back
  • PPS Guidelines
  • Muscle Atrophy
  • Free Press
  • Coronavirus


In memory of



Bernadette Teresa Oleksa


Tribute to Bernie


Bernadette (Bernie) Oleksa passed away October 18, 2016. She was a polio survivor, long-time scooter-user, but mostly she was truly a fine lady, very involved with helping others, soft-spoken and thoughtful, a great friend.


In the 80's we served together on the Board of the Michigan Polio Network. Meetings were monthly in Lansing. Also in the 80's we volunteered several times for the March of Dimes Annual fundraising walks. Her idea. No, not as walkers, but in tallying, in the MoD Southfield office, the pledges of the walkers. It was a small way for us to thank MoD for the generous financial assistance in the 50's to polio patients. Bernie talked about how much she'd enjoyed attending Camp Grace Bentley. This is a summer camp for disabled children on the shores of Lake Huron. In later years she volunteered there and became a Board member. 


In 2009 my husband & I were blessed to attend a festive celebration for her 80th birthday and RETIREMENT!! Wow! 80 years old and RETIRING?! She'd worked as a bookkeeper at the last company for 30 years. The company owners were there to honor her. We also got to meet her family including her 2 sons and the grandchildren. 


In the last few years she moved to assisted living in Marshall to be closer to one of her sons and family. When we visited, she was busy enjoying jig-saw puzzles. (So we sent more.) Not one to just " sit around", she served on the facility's Food & Garden Committees. Recently her physical condition had declined considerably. I imagine that where she is now there is no need for crutches or scooters. Do you suppose that she's found a committee or a Board to work on?


Paula Lemieux



BERNADETTE TERESA OLEKSA, at age 87, of Marshall and formerly of Detroit died Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at Oaklawn Hospital with her family at her bedside. 


Mrs. Oleksa was born on May 27, 1929 in Detroit to Louis and Pauline (Barczyk) Pawlus. She lived the majority of her life in Bloomfield Hills and Rochester Hills and was a graduate of Commerce High School, in Detroit. Bernadette had been employed as a bookkeeper for the Degenhardt Construction Company in Troy for over 30 years. She retired in 2009 at the age of 80. Other employment included the J. Walter Thompson Company in Detroit. 


In 1959, she married Myron Oleksa from Detroit, who preceded her in death on July 2, 2005. Bernadette was a polio survivor and had been very active with the Southeast Michigan Polio Support Group as well as with Camp Grace Bentley, serving both organizations as a Board member and volunteer. She enjoyed knitting, gardening, and cooking. She is remembered by her family as a loving mother and grandmother. She was a very social person and made friends easily. She had a positive impact wherever she went as she had the gift of helping others. While living at Maplewood of Marshall, Bernadette served on the Food and Garden Committees. She is survived by sons, Robert "Rob" (Jenny) Oleksa of Marshall and David Oleksa of St. Louis, MO; 6 grandchildren: Caitlin, Danny, Katherine, Sami, Max and Anna, her grand-dog Sawyer; and a sister, Elizabeth Wisniewski of Detroit. She is preceded in death by brothers, Frank Pawlus, Jerry Pawlus, Stanley Pawlus, and Edward Pawlus; sisters, Jean Schwagle and Patricia Pawlus. A family graveside service was held in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield


No warranties

This website is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied. The Michigan Polio Network website providers make no representations or warranties in relation to this website or the information and materials provided on this website.

Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the Michigan Polio Network website providers do not warrant that:

     - this website will be constantly available, or available at all; or

     - the information on this website is complete, true, accurate or non-misleading.

Nothing on this website constitutes, or is meant to constitute, advice of any kind. If you require advice in relation to any medical matter you should consult an appropriate professional.


Limitations of liability

The Michigan Polio Network website providers will not be liable to you (whether under the law of contract, the law of torts or otherwise) in relation to the contents of, or use of, or otherwise in connection with, this website:

     - to the extent that the website is provided free-of-charge, for any direct loss;

     - for any indirect, special or consequential loss; or

     - for any business losses, loss of revenue, income, profits or anticipated savings, loss of contracts or business
       relationships, loss of reputation or goodwill, or loss or corruption of information or data
.