A tiny dynamo has crossed heaven’s gate. Vera Helen Bippus, born January 8, 1937, age 88, left this world on January 17, 2025. Vera spent her youth in Blakeslee, Ohio, where she helped her family run Sam’s Place, a restaurant and bar known for miles around for its great steaks, hand-made potato chips, and Mose Hoppers, a dessert drink made from a secret recipe.
In 1958, she married Jim Bippus and in 1967, moved with him and their six children to Three Rivers, Michigan, where Jim worked as a manager of the Essex Wire factory. Soon Jim decided that position was not a good fit for him and purchased the Standard Gas Station on Michigan Avenue. Vera began working at the station as a bookkeeper. In 1982, the Shell station on the corner of 131 and Michigan Avenue was purchased. At that time the station had a tiny store inside and a garage for car repairs. Vera worked daily with Jim and stood behind the cash register. She would always report to work dressed as if she was going to a fancy meeting, wearing a business suit, high heeled pumps, and her hair impeccably styled. Forever a study in contrasts, Vera could be seen in the parking area picking up cigarette butts or discarded wrappers. In another irony, Vera never learned to pump gas.
Vera was the consummate hostess. When the gas station opened a deli, called “Vera’s Kitchen,” she often gave regular customers free food or embellished servings with something extra. Vera and Jim hosted bridge and poker parties that rotated through their club members’ homes. None of the other wives could outdo Vera in the spread she put out for those events. Later she began to make a special lunch each Wednesday for Jim to see family and friends after his retirement.
Stories of her famous Sunday dinners are legendary. For over 25 years Vera served Sunday dinner in her home at 1:00 p.m. All family was expected to attend and it was always fine to bring friends along. If you did not attend, you were in danger of being the topic of conversation. There were often fifteen to twenty people at dinner. Sunday dinner was like having a buffet restaurant in your own house. Vera made the absolute best desserts. The best way to please Vera on a Sunday was to eat two or even three helpings of the food that magically appeared in front of you, even if you didn’t ask for it. Again, Vera was a study in contrast. It was rare for anyone to ever see her eat, and she very rarely was ever seen sitting at her own table during Sunday dinners.
Vera loved to cook, especially for her adult children. Either they got a call to come over and pick up food made from her special recipes or it magically appeared in their refrigerators. It seemed that Vera could make breads and pastries with her eyes closed, especially Middle Eastern foods like baklava, sfeeha, and the common dodo. All of the grandchildren have special memories of cooking and baking with her. In later years, her son, John, came to her house many times to learn the art of making Middle Eastern food including baklava and Syrian bread. Family knew her as Sitie, Syrian for grandmother.
Vera loved dancing and music and was totally in her element dressing up for the Cotillion parties. She had a Pomeranian dog, Tiffany, that she dearly loved. She also had a cat and unfortunately in her generosity, began feeding a herd of feral cats that came to her deck every night for food. She and Jim were awarded Three River Citizens of the Year in 2012. They made new people in town welcome by inviting them into their home.
Vera is preceded in death by her husband Jim Bippus and daughter, Laura Lane. Surviving are her sister Louise Phillips; children John (Sharon) Bippus, Annette (Kurt) Curtis, Karen (Brian) Burkeen, Joe (Cheryl) Bippus, and Marie (Steve) Scott; grandchildren, James Bippus, Gabe Fuller, Autumn Piper, April Bippus, Evan Bippus, plus two great grandchildren, Logan and Maverick Bippus.
Visitation will be held at Ray Funeral Services, 305 Rock River Ave., Three Rivers, on Tuesday, January 28th 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 645 South Douglas Ave., Three Rivers, Wednesday, January 29th at 11:00 a.m.
Memorial donations in Vera’s name may be directed to the Immaculate Conception School. Envelopes will be available at Ray Funeral Home and at the Funeral Mass.
Please share a memory of Vera at www.rayfuneralservices.com
