Bernard J. Dr. Woodley, M.D.

Bernard Joseph Woodley was born to Thomas Woodley and Catherine Quinn on June 5, 1929 in Detroit where he grew up with his brothers Tom and Paul. He attended Catholic Central High School and The University of Detroit where he majored in engineering. He lost his father at the young age of 17 and he worked to support his mother and brothers. After college, he worked for Ford Motor Company and left a promising career to attend medical school at the University of Michigan. He married Yvonne M. Sirois on August 12, 1950 and they had five children together. He served as a Navy doctor on a Marine Corps Base in the Mohave Desert and returned to Michigan where he began the private practice of medicine in which he thrived for over forty five years. He married Marcia Peterson Devany on November 27, 1976 and loved her children as his own. He moved to the East River on Grosse Isle where he spent his later years and his children and eight grandchildren would visit him. He suffered from Parkinson’s for the last years of his life and died on August 2nd, 2011. Bern loved hunting, skiing, boating, golfing, his wife, his family and life in general. He loved these things but they were not who he was. He was a caregiver from the age of 17 and he cared for his mother until she died at the age of 96. He was a son, a brother, a father, a husband and a healer. He made house calls when others quit and his patients had his home phone number. He spoke softly but had one heck of a loud whistle, which he used frequently. He led by example and had high expectations but never expected anyone to do more than he would do. He was always supportive and encouraging. He was proud that there are four doctors and a lawyer among his children. He loved Jesus, practiced his religion faithfully and was a daily communicant. He loved his children, his step children and his grand children. He adored his wife Marcia and will undoubtedly miss her the most. He is survived by his wife Marcia, his children Robin Woodley (Jack Hoyt), Susan (David) Restaino, Michele Woodley (John Wallis), Scott Woodley, Beth (Rob) Oslon, Sheila Ryan , Dennis Devany and Joseph Devany III, his grandchildren Tyler and Amy Wallis, Patrick and Kevin Devany, Nisha and Matthew Woodley, Michael and Thomas Restaino and his Brother Paul ( Louise) Woodley.