Thelma Kehoe

Thelma B. Kehoe, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and dear friend, passed away peacefully on March 7, 2026, surrounded by the family she cherished. Born on November 5, 1940, in Tecumseh, Michigan, she was the youngest child and only daughter of Blanche and Arthur Strahle. She grew up on the family farm in Grass Lake, attending a one-room schoolhouse through eighth grade before taking the long bus ride to Manchester High School. It was there she met the love of her life, Daniel Kehoe. They dated throughout high school and married while Dan was attending Western Michigan University.

Thelma worked as an administrative assistant at the University of Michigan School of Public Health before she and Dan moved to Shelby Township, where they built their dream home. She later served as an administrative assistant for a dean at Oakland University. After 13 years of marriage, they welcomed two children, Kristin and Kevin. Thelma devoted herself to being a stay-at-home mother, volunteering at her children’s school and activities, finding her greatest joy in raising them. When her children grew more independent, she returned to work as one of the first three employees at a small leasing company in Rochester, eventually becoming its Human Resources Director.

She was blessed with bonus grandchildren Meghan, Adam, and Emily when Kristin married, followed by twins Claire and Kate, and then Ella. Known to all as Nana, Thelma poured her time and love into her grandchildren, reading to them, playing games, taking them to the park, attending their sporting events, and creating countless happy memories. As her family continued to grow, she became a great-grandmother to Bradley, Natalie, Jacob, Grace, Carter, Stevie, and Jack. The home she and Dan built became a beloved gathering place for sleepovers, pool parties, card nights, holiday celebrations, neighborhood bonfires, Easter egg hunts, and many other joyful occasions. She had a special gift for making everyone feel welcome.

Thelma is survived by her children, Kristin (Paul) Bemis and Kevin Kehoe; grandchildren Claire, Kate, and Ella; bonus grandchildren Meghan (Jon) Lembas, Adam (Lauren) Bemis, and Emily (Zach) Hite; and great-grandchildren Bradley, Natalie, Jacob, Grace, Carter, Stevie, and Jack. She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Daniel Kehoe; her brothers Leon, Howard, and Harold Strahle; her parents Arthur and Blanche Strahle; her stepmother Bertha Strahle; and her stepsisters Irene Watson and Marie Below.

She will be remembered for her kindness, generosity, warm heart, spectacular cooking, her ability to feed a crowd on a moment’s notice, her listening ear, wise advice, competitive spirit at card games, and the deep love she showed for her family and friends. She was a strong yet gentle woman who will be greatly missed.