Ofilia “Ofie” Kuss

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December 24, 1938 – February 6, 2019

Ofilia “Ofie” Kuss, 80, of Sodus, MI passed away Wednesday, February 6, 2019 at her home.

 A Celebration of Life Service will be held 10:00 A.M., Monday, February 11, 2019 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Burial will follow at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Sodus. Friends may visit from 3:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M. Sunday, February 10, 2019 at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Berrien County Cancer Service or Caring Circle. Those wishing to share a memory of Ofie online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com

 Ofilia was born December 24, 1938 in Weslaco, TX to Eustollio & Frances (Riveria) Abella. She graduated form St. Mercy High School in 1956. On October 1, 1960 she married John M. Kuss in St. Louis, MO. Ofie was a homemaker who kept a busy schedule caring for her family. Ofie was a life member of the Southwestern Michigan USBC Women’s Bowling Association.  She served on the association Board of Directors for many years before becoming the Association Manager, a position she held until 2008.  She bowled in many local, state and national bowing tournaments, and was a member of the Blossomland 600 Club as well as the Michigan State 600 Club and the National 600 Bowling Club.  In 1992 Ofie was inducted into the Southwestern Michigan WBA Hall of Fame for Superior Performance.  She consistently carried one of the higher averages in the association and was ranked as one of the top 20 women bowlers locally.  Ofie was voted League Secretary of the Year for her dedication and service to the Wildlife Senior League, a position she held for over 30 years.  The bowling community will miss Ofie immensely. She also spent many hours volunteering at Memorial Hospital, Benton Harbor Soup Kitchen, Make a Wish Foundation, Stevensville American Legion Woman’s Auxiliary, and SS. John & Bernard Parish. In Ofie’s spare time she enjoyed reading, cooking, and caring for her grand pets.

 Ofilia is survived by her children Mary (David) Griswold, John “Jack” (Cathy) Kuss, and Margaret “Maggie” Maguigad; two granddaughters Leah Berean and Trisha Griswold and Fiancé Paul Hawkins; step-grandchildren Nick Holobaugh and Becky Heyn; step-great grandchild Charlotte Hanna; siblings Eustollio “Blackie” Abella Jr., Lee Abella, Angel “Johnny Crazy River” Abella, and Nellie Abella; and many nieces and nephews. Ofie was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and siblings Mary Montez, Martin Abella, and Mickey Fierro.

Posted On: Thursday, February 7, 2019 3:46 PM