ELIZABETH A. (Bickel) McINERNEY, known at various times as "Betty Anne," "Betty" and "Beth", died June 28, 2023, at the age of 90. She was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on September 4, 1932, and moved to Detroit in 1936. She attended St. Mary of Redford for elementary and secondary school, graduating from its high school in 1950. After attending the University of Detroit, she married James L. McInerney on September 5, 1953, and settled into her role as wife and mother of five children. After raising her family primarily in Southfield, she and James moved to Dearborn in 1978, and to Pinehurst, North Carolina, in 1995. They returned to Michigan in 2009, and she resided at Fox Run in Novi until her death. In the 6th grade, Beth and a couple of friends created their own sorority, Alpha Delta, also known as 'The Club.' Though the sorority started in 6th grade, Beth was friends with some of the girls from kindergarten. There was a core of 12 that stayed friends throughout their entire lives. Some moved out of state but they remained members of this exclusive 'Club.' At this time, there are 2 remaining members. One of the great joys of Beth's life was collecting Belleek china, created in Ireland. She was a charter member of the Belleek Collectors Society. At one point, she owned, and displayed, 288 pieces of Belleek. You couldn't miss it when you entered her home/apt.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James, in 2016, and by her parents, Walter and Anne Bickel. She is survived by her five children, Mark (Judi) McInerney, Cathleen (the late John) Thomas, Michael (Kim) McInerney, Anne McInerney and Terence (Barbara) McInerney; her twelve grandchildren, Jenny, Meghan, Andrew (fiancé Emily), Molly and Caroline McInerney, Kevin (Erica), Elizabeth and Sean Thomas, Kayley (Corey) Haines, Courtney (Gregory) Peachey, Allison (Alex) Owens, and Marin (Eric) Krolczyk; her great-grandchildren Lily and Logan Peachey, and Hudson Haines; her sister-in-law Betty, and four nieces. Visitation on Monday, July 17, from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at O'Brien-Sullivan Funeral Home, 41555 Grand River, Novi. Funeral Mass on Tuesday, July 18, at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 23815 Power Road, Farmington, preceded by memorial gathering at 9:30 a.m. For those attending the funeral Mass: Due to construction, access to the Our Lady of Sorrows Church is limited to the north and northeast entrances. The northwest entrance is closed. Memorials to University of Detroit Jesuit High School www.uofdjesuit.org or Hospice of Michigan www.hom.org would be greatly appreciated.