Beverly Louise (Depew) Ghiardi

Beverly Louise Ghiardi, age 84, of Munising, died surrounded by love early Friday morning, November 10, 2023 at Medilodge of Munising.   Beverly gracefully fought dementia for almost twenty years.  She was born on June 24, 1939 in Munising to Willard “Boy” and Bertha (Hixon) Depew.  Beverly graduated from Sacred Heart School and then Wm. G. Mather High School in 1957.  Bev was the first female percussionist in Munising’s history.  She was a hard worker throughout her life and worked at the A & P Grocery store in high school.  Bev then went to work for Kimberly Clark shortly after graduation.   Her brother Jim brought his best friend and college roommate home for a visit to Munising.  David Ghiardi came to Munising as Jim’s friend and left as Bev’s boyfriend.  They were married on December 26, 1960 and together raised their three children.   The family spent countless days and nights with Jim and Laurie Depew and family.  Those cousins were like brothers and sisters.  Some of the family’s most enjoyable memories were at 16 Mile Lake being together and playing euchre and pinochle.  Bev had briefly left the mill to raise her kids but returned to the mill and retired after twenty-six years.  She spent most of that time in Planning and Customer Service, and Beverly worked alongside her father and her daughter Kathy at the mill.

Beverly’s favorite place was in her kitchen.  She loved to cook for anyone and everyone who came into her home, which was always open for anyone who needed a place to be.  Bev or Mrs. G. always made sure you were not hungry when in her home.  She not only loved providing food, but the atmosphere of love and friendship that the kitchen gave to her and those who were there.  She was famous for her macaroni salad and ribbon sandwiches, and her refrigerator was always full.

In retirement, she and David enjoyed their years traveling, playing golf, bird hunting, and wintering in Mississippi, Arizona, and Florida.  They were members of Sacred Heart Church.  With a smile and twinkle in her eye, she tolerated David’s adventures and the “something on your shirt” and contradictory yes and no head shake pranks that he pulled on so many.  Some would say that she spoiled him.  They spent hours watching sports, and Bev was not just a coach’s wife.  She understood and loved the games.   They were proud parents and grandparents following their family’s activities.  They spent many Mustang nights in the bleachers with Jim and Kay Landfair.  Beverly was a good bowler and golfer.  She enjoyed reading and taking long walks.  Beverly and David could be found walking whatever the weather.  She was famous amongst her family for having whatever they may possibly need in her purse or pocket.  Beverly loved being with her family and always paid for dinner even if someone invited her.  She taught them about respecting others and taking care of people in need.  Bev was open-minded, humble, intelligent, gentle, kind, giving and a great confidant to her friends.  Beautiful Beverly, as David would call her, always had a giggle and song in her voice.  On Friday, she left our world surrounded by the love of family and entered her eternal home surrounded by the love of family who went before her.

Bev is survived by her children – Tom (Peg) Ghiardi of Kennesaw, GA, Sandi (Dan) Reddy of Wyoming, MI, and Kathy Matson of Munising; grandchildren – Peter, Cathy, Caroline (Ryan), Liz (Brendan), Tony, Nick, Jesse, Megan, and Jenna; great-grandchildren – Daniel, Dominic, Alex, Connor, and Emma; brother – Jim (Laurie) Depew of Newberry; dear friend – Kay Landfair; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Beverly was preceded in death by her parents Willard and Bertha, her husband of over fifty-three years David Ghiardi on May 25, 2014, her granddaughter – Faith Marie Matson; brothers and sister – David Depew, Molly (George) Schmidt, and Jack (Linda) Depew; father and mother-in-law – Joseph and Rosalita Ghiardi; brothers and sisters-in-law – Dominic (Alice) Ghiardi, Catherine (Jack) Haupt, Peter (Eleanor) Ghiardi, and Gena (Gordy) Farragh; and dear friend  - Jim Landfair.

Services will be held on Friday, November 17, 2023 at the Bowerman Funeral Home.  Visitation will be from 1:30 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.   Deacon Tom Moseley will conduct Bev’s funeral service in the funeral home’s chapel at 4:00 p.m. 

Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising on Friday, November 24, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.

Memorials are requested to be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in Bev’s name.  http://www.alz.org