Sheila Bria

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

She was born November 16, 1941 in Ironwood, Michigan, 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, MI in 1959. Following their marriage, Sheila and Donald lived in Milwaukee, WI for 9 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, MN 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, MN, Janine (John) Zimmerman, Rockford, MN, James (Amanda) Bria, Madison, WI, and Joni Bria, St. Louis Park, MN; six grandchildren, Kelsey, Zachary, Grace, Lucienne, Silas, and Arianna; five sisters, Anita Erickson, Albuquerque, NM, Viola (Jack) Schwartz, Albuquerque, NM, Wilette Wehner, Los Alamos, NM, Nancy (Larry) Gregory, Mounds View, MN, and Janet (Sam) Thompson, Mendota Heights, MN; sister-in-laws Judith (Warren) Kivi, Midland, MI, Susan (Tom) Coffey, Greenland, MI; special cousin-in-law Linda (Jim) Dishman, Cadillac, MI; 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 20th, 2019 at 11:00am in the Regina Chapel at the Regina Senior Living facility, 1175 Nininger Road, Hastings, MN 55033. The family will receive friends from 10:00am until the service begins. A luncheon will be held in the River Room following the service until 1:30pm.

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 & Emergency Assistance of Hastings, MN or the Sharon Lutheran Church of Bessemer, MI.

The family would like to thank the Regina Care Center in Hastings, MN for their compassionate care.