Obituary of Nellie Henderson

July 4, 1939 - November 15, 2024

Nellie Kathleen Henderson. Age 85 of Riverview.

Beloved wife of the late Pierce “Pete” Henderson. Loving mother of Donna (Charles Schimmel) Henderson, Lori (Joe) Karas and Joseph Zaffini. Dearest grandmother of Kami Karas, Hailey Schimmel and Nicholas Schimmel. Dear sister of  Henry Collins and the late Patricia Couvreur.

Memorial contributions are appreciated to Michigan Humane Society. 

Family Tribute ~

Nellie Kathleen Henderson (Collins) was born to the late Maria Catherine and Henry Collins on July 4, 1939, in Detroit, Michigan. As a young adult, Nellie worked at the local dime store in downtown Detroit. Nellie and her family eventually moved to Melvindale, Michigan, where Nellie would meet and attend prom with her husband of fifty-nine years. As an adult, Nellie was an insurance biller and office manager for a local doctor’s office. Nellie was also a devout Catholic and regularly attended St.Cyprian Church.

Nellie, though affectionately referred to by those closest to her as “Ma,” wore many hats during her lifetime: she was a shopping trip partner, a furniture connoisseur, an art teacher, a lunch date, a babysitter, a church companion, a movie-goer, and a caregiver, to name a few. Nellie regularly babysat neighborhood children when parents went out of town and provided meals and clean clothing to those who needed it. Nellie was also a talented sewist and artist who shared those skills with her grandchildren through arts and crafts. Nellie taught her granddaughter, Hailey, how to sew as a young child, and she taught both of her granddaughters, Hailey and Kami, how to draw and paint. Nellie was also an animal lover and was known to bring home any cat, dog, or small animal her children would find in the neighborhood. Nellie was also known for her style and was a frequent and longtime shopper at Macy’s department store. She especially enjoyed pausing her shopping trips to eat lunch and order a Maurice salad from the Macy’s restaurant. When her children were young, Nellie would allow them to roller skate on the hard tile floors of their basement. She would also sit outside for hours watching her children play in their backyard pool and serve them cherry chip cupcakes and Kool-Aid as a treat. Nellie also liked to play board games, with Monopoly being her favorite. Nellie enjoyed the holidays, especially Christmas, and showered her family with love and gifts during the holiday season. 

A favorite story of her family is when she was riding her bike around her neighborhood and saw her son-in-law and two grandchildren playing at a park. Nellie rode her bike back to her home and, a few minutes later, drove her car back to the playground, where she unloaded sandwiches, juice, and treats not only for her grandchildren but also for her son-in-law. Nellie suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease for the last ten years of her life. Although this disease stole pieces of her throughout the years, Nellie was able to keep some of the most essential pieces of herself: her kindness, sense of humor, and faith. Nellie was a favorite patient amongst the caregivers who helped to take care of her, who also referred to her as “Ma" and frequently showered her with hugs and kisses. On her better days, Nellie would give sarcastic answers to questions or make witty comments on the ongoing conversation. When Nellie’s granddaughter, Hailey, would visit, Hailey and Nellie would regularly shop together online – a pastime they enjoyed doing together. Her daughter Lori continued to cut Nellie’s hair, which Nellie seemed to enjoy as she would often fall asleep during it. Even though Nellie could not physically attend church any longer, she and her daughter, Donna, would regularly watch recorded Sunday masses.

Nellie is preceded in death by her parents, Maria Catherine and Henry James Collins, her husband, Pierce “Pete” Henderson, and her sister, Patricia Couvreur. Nellie is survived by her brother, Henry “Hank” Collins, and children Donna Henderson (Charles Schimmel), Lori Karas (Joe Karas), and Joseph Zaffini. She is further survived by her three grandchildren, Nicholas Schimmel, Hailey Schimmel, and Kami Karas, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.