Sheila Miriam Bria

HASTINGS, Minn. - Sheila Miriam Bria, 77, of Hastings, passed away surrounded by family on Friday, March 15, 2019, following a short battle with cancer.

She was born Nov. 16, 1941, in Ironwood, Mich., to the late Syme and Martin Tammelin. On July 8, 1961, she was united in marriage to Donald John Bria.

Sheila graduated from A.D. Johnston High School in Bessemer, Mich., in 1959. Following their marriage, Sheila and Donald lived in Milwaukee, for nine years before moving back home to Michigan and residing in Bessemer, where Sheila was a homemaker for a number of years. She then worked in the electronics department at K-Mart until her retirement. In 2010, Sheila moved to Hastings to be closer to her children and grandchildren.

Sheila enjoyed crocheting, knitting and gardening. She also enjoyed watching sports and, along with Donald, was an active member of the Bessemer Booster Club for a number of years. She closely followed the Detroit Tigers and Green Bay Packers. Mostly, she loved taking care of her family and six grandchildren.

She is survived by four children, Jeffrey (Michele) Bria, Cottage Grove, Minn., Janine (John) Zimmerman, Rockford, Minn., James (Amanda) Bria, Madison, Wis., and Joni Bria, St. Louis Park, Minn .; six grandchildren, Kelsey, Zachary, Grace, Lucienne, Silas and Arianna; five sisters, Anita Erickson, Albuquerque, N.M., Viola (Jack) Schwartz, Albuquerque, Wilette Wehner, Los Alamos, N.M., Nancy (Larry) Gregory, Mounds View, Minn., and Janet (Sam) Thompson, Mendota Heights, Minn .; sister-in-laws, Judith (Warren) Kivi, Midland, Mich., and Susan (Tom) Coffey, Greenland, Mich .; special cousin-in-law, Linda (Jim) Dishman, Cadillac, Mich .; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Sheila was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Donald John Bria; her parents, Syme and Martin Tammelin; her mother-in law and father in-law, Edith and John Bria; and brother-in-laws, Timothy Wehner and Donald Erickson.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held in Sheila's honor on Saturday, April 20, at 11 a.m. in the Regina Chapel at the Regina Senior Living facility at 1175 Nininger Road in Hastings. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the service begins. A luncheon will be held in the River Room following the service until 1:30 p.m.

Those wishing to make an expression of sympathy are kindly asked to consider making a donation in her name to Hastings Family Service Food Shelf and Emergency Assistance of Hastings (hastingsfamilyservice.org) or the Sharon Lutheran Church of Bessemer (psalmshared.org).

The family thanks the Regina Care Center in Hastings for their compassionate care.