Crime & Safety

West Bloomfield Woman's Cause of Death Likely Drowning, Hypothermia

A funeral service will be held Dec. 6 in Keego Harbor for Joanne Marie O'Reilly.

West Bloomfield Township Police say an elderly woman found dead Tuesday after wandering away from her home probably succumbed to drowning and hypothermia. 

Lieutenant Tim Diamond said final autopsy results are not in yet for Joanne Marie O’Reilly, 77, who was last seen Dec. 2 around 9 p.m. on Rosedale Street in West Bloomfield. She was found not far from her home, in the area of Hiller and Greer and near Cass Lake. Temperatures Monday night and early Tuesday dropped into the teens. 

O'Reilly suffered from Alzheimer's disease and dementia. 

According to an obituary published by Pixley Funeral Home, survivors include her children, Frank (Tracy) Houttekier, George (Jennifer) Houttekier, Fielding Houttekier, De'Nean (Doug) Breed and Jena (Tom) Houttekier, and six grandchildren. 

A funeral service will be held Dec. 6, 4 p.m., at the Pixley Funeral Home Godhardt Tomlinson Chapel, 2904 Orchard Lake Rd., Keego Harbor, with Rev. Fr. Jack Baker officiating. Visitation will be 2:30 p.m. until the time of service.

Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or Haven House, 30400 Telegraph Road, #101, Bingham Farms, MI 48025. 


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