Orielie F. Bigwood

Our beloved mom, Orielie Frances (Zatelli) Bigwood passed away peacefully in her home on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at the age of 83. Orielie was born in Suttersville, Pennsylvania on July 7, 1940 to Vasco and Jesse (Everly) Zatelli. She was the youngest girl of 7 children. Her early life was spent in Pennsylvania where her father worked in the coal mines. The family moved to the Detroit area in the mid 1940's. Orielie is pre-deceased by her parents and six siblings: Robert (Pat) Zatelli, Albert Zatelli, Sylvia White, Eileen (Albert) Zack, Leonard (Marlene) Zatelli, and Douglas (Linda) Zatelli.

Orielie spent 40 years in a loving relationship with her sweetheart, Richard Gutc. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Bigwood, whom she married in February 1964. Orielie is survived by her children: Kelley Bigwood-Popp, Karla (Edward) Zbikowski, and Richard (Crystal) Gutc. She was a loving grandmother to Robert (Melissa) Zbikowski, Maxwell Popp, and Gabriella Gutc and a dear great-grandmother to Aurora Zbikowski. Orielie was a favorite aunt to her many nieces and nephews. Anyone who knew our mom, knew how much she loved Elvis, bowling, bingo, poker, and the slots. Fun fact: mom was on "Bowling for Dollars" in the late 1970's and she came very close to walking away with the top prize. We are still sad for her that she never got that 300 game, she was only a few pins away!

If our mom wasn't at home, it was likely that she was at bingo or the casino with Rose, Ronnie, Peggy, or Sylvia. She was a short, feisty, spitfire with jet black hair, who told it like it was, whether you liked what she had to say or not! As her children, we knew better, her bark was always worse than her bite and she cared deeply for her family. Growing up our house was a refuge for many of her nieces and nephews. Mom always welcomed them and cared for them while they got on their feet as young adults. Even though our mom could be gruff and tough, she was extremely proud of her three children and would tell anyone who asked what each of us were up to.

A visitation for Orielie will be held Thursday, February 8, 2024 from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM at D.S. Temrowski and Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road, Warren, Michigan. A funeral service will take place Friday, February 9, 2024 at 11:00 AM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Orielie's name to the Alzheimer's Association of Michigan. Please share a memory with the family in our online guest book.