Nola Marie Bjelk

Nola Marie Bjelk, aged 87 years, passed peacefully at home on August 31, 2024. Nola was born the third of seven children to Clifford and Geneva Breckheimer of Tolna, North Dakota. After earning her Registered Nurse (RN) degree, she and a fellow classmate moved to California to ‘nurse their way around the world.’ She met and married her husband shortly after moving to Encinitas, CA. After five years they
relocated to Northern California where she lived for the remainder of her life, first in Sunnyvale, then relocating to Placerville following retirement.

She is survived by her daughters Robin Bjelk, Leslie Bjelk (Bill Kleschick), and Susan Cross (Bill), her granddaughter Jessica Ronsse, grandsons Andrew Kleschick, Daniel Kleschick, two great grandsons, and
her faithful canine companion, Sissy. She is preceded in death by her son Jeffery Alan, and the father of her children, Roger Eugene Bjelk. She is also preceded in death by her siblings, Bobbie Olson, Monte
Breckheimer, William Breckheimer, Lee Breckheimer, and twins Charles Breckheimer and Charlene Dapper.

Nola was a fierce competitor and at age 50 earned her Bachelors in Nursing (BSN) in order to financially compete with 25 year olds. She lived her entire life with strong Catholic beliefs. As a young mother she
volunteered as a Sunday Morning Religious Education (SMRE) teacher, and later, moving to an active role in the St. Martin (Sunnyvale) parish choir. She so believed in the serving of those in need that she
volunteered for 15 years at the Mother Theresa Maternity Home in Placerville, until she was 83 yrs old. She was also active in the St. Patrick (Placerville) church choir and especially enjoyed singing the Messiah
alongside a professional choir. She took great joy in quilting blankets for her generations of family, reading, making good strong Cabernet wines, riding her bike, and camping. Her bread making skills were
known in the neighborhood. In her later years she travelled extensively around the world with her sister, Charlene (Howard), and other family members, Zona (Neal), Betty, and Virginia. The family reunions in
North Dakota and Florida attended by siblings, cousins, daughter, nieces and nephews were always a highlight.

Services will be held on November 26, 2024 at St. Patrick Catholic Church at 3109 Sacramento Street, Placerville, CA 95667. The Mass will also be streamed live on YouTube for those who cannot attend. The Rosary will be at 10:30 a.m., followed by Mass at 11 a.m. Committal will follow at St. Patrick Mausoleum on 895 Green Street, Placerville, with reception following. Flowers welcome or donations can be made in her memory to the Mother Theresa Maternity Home, P.O. Box 991, Placerville, CA 95667.

Proverbs 31:31 “Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.“