Michael John Bellia

Michael John Bellia, born on July 29, 1952, passed away peacefully on April 12, 2017 after succumbing to his long battle with heart disease. Son of the late John Bellia and Patricia (nee: Collins) Bellia. He is survived by his wife, Michalene "Mickey" Bellia; daughter, Shavon Bellia; and his sister, Nancy (Bob) Butler. Also surviving are his mother in-law Margaret (the late Marvin) Malek, and many in-laws including, Michael (Carol) Malek, Skip (and the late Denise) Malek, Mary (Bob) Pearson, Monica (Ramon) Valdez, the late Matthew Malek, Mark (Jewel) Malek, and Marty (Susan) Malek. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews that he loved dearly, Jonathon Malek, Jennifer Malek; Godson, Matthew (Jenny) Anderson, Donna Anderson Holton, the late David Kozicki, Danny Kozicki, Ray (Kendyl) Valdez, Jesse (Brandi) Valdez, Kristen (Jacob) Miller, Jina Malek, Justin Malek, Samantha Pearson, Marc Malek, Sydney Malek, Tyler Malek, Jacob Malek, as well as 14 great nieces and nephews. Mike was a gentle soul, very loving and kindhearted. He was the one to crack a joke just to make you smile, or would just sit with you and shoot the breeze like he had all the time in the world just for you,...Mike was a one-in-a-million kind of guy. It didn't matter whether you only knew him for a brief moment or for practically your whole life, Mike Bellia had a way of leaving his mark, however big or small, on everyone he met along his life's journey. Mike and Michalene "Mickey" met when they were just 15 years old, reconnected again at age 19, and were married on Mickey's 21st birthday in 1973. On January 4, 1979, they were blessed with their first and only child, their beautiful daughter Shavon Michelle Bellia. Shavon was the light of Mike's life, he loved and cherished her from the moment she was born. He was so proud of the woman she has become, her kindness, strength, intelligence and beauty. He, undoubtedly, loved her with all of his being. While his wife and daughter were always his number one, Mike had others passions in life as well. If he wasn't on the golf course or at the indoor golf simulator, then you could find him in his garage listening to his music and singing while he washed and waxed his car,...which, by the way, he had 33 of over the course of his lifetime and could name every make, model, year and color. If he wasn't physically playing golf or washing his car, he was watching a television show related to one of the two. On his days off from golf and car maintenance, you could find him on his glider swing in the garage watching over the neighborhood and getting all the updates on the latest gossip from the neighbor kids, who LOVE Mr. Mike! He was like a kid magnet,...they would gravitate to him and his silly jokes, and he always had the time to listen to all of their stories; plus the freeze pop popsicles,...those were a bonus. Just ask any of his grown nieces and nephews and they can attest, they will tell you about how Uncle Mike would get down on the ground and have wrestle mania in the living room with the nephews where the famous "fake" head slap was born, or how he would fold his hands together to make his arms into a swing giving all of the nieces a turn. And if he still had any energy after that, they would all stand in line for their turn to grab his hands while he spun in a circle until they yelled, OK, stop! He was just a big kid at heart and loved being surrounded by all the children's laughter. While family was a very important part of Mike's life, he also had a special extended family,...his band of brothers, the "9 guys in the box." These guys have been friends for close to 50 years. Their friendship is a true testament that family does not have to be blood only, together they are stronger helping one another through the good times and the bad. To honor the bond of friendship and brotherhood, they had a wooden box, or Tintino, lined in velvet made up for them. The box holds 9 individual shot glasses, each engraved with their own initials. Its also filled with pictures and mementos that they've gathered over the years. They bring the box to special occasions, be it weddings, birthdays, birth of a new baby, engagements, and so on, and they fill each shot glass and do a toast to the occasion and their friendship,...and if we were lucky they would pause for some pictures. This will be the first toast made to honor the life of one of the nine. Mike's shot glass will remain in the Tintino with a black ribbon tied around it, always to be remembered as one of the 9, and toasting with us all in spirit. Mike Bellia, my husband, my best friend, the love of my life for 43 years. He was a special man to us all. And while he will be missed greatly, he leaves behind a piece of himself in our hearts that will remain until we meet again. During our last few moments together he said, "you can't have love without pain, otherwise it's not really love. If you live and don't have love then what was the point. With love comes pain and I would do it all again for my love, my life Michael John." Even in death his generosity continues. Mike was an organ donor; his eyes will be harvested and the rest of his body will be donated to the anatomical department at the University of Michigan in the hope that they can study his heart and learn from it to help save the life of someone else suffering with his disease. To celebrate Mike's life, a Memorial Visitation will be held Thursday, April 20th from 4-9pm, with storytelling and eulogizing beginning at 7pm, closing with a brief prayer.Any donations are appreciated to Mike's family and will go towards Michael Bellia's medical expenses. Please share memories of Mike at his memory book above.