Beverly Rastello

Beverly Joy (Haltunen) Rastello “Goodie” age 70 of Fenton Michigan, formerly of Copper City Michigan, gained her angel wings surrounded by her loving family in the early morning hours of April 15th after a very admirable and valiant battle with a recent diagnosis of Calciphylaxis.

Beverly was born to Elmer and Gwendolyn (Pirkola) Haltunen on December 16th, 1949.  She attended Calumet High School and married Reid Rastello on November 26, 1966.  She was proud to be the very first CNA hired by Keweenaw Home nursing. She also worked as a secretary in their office and retired in 1997.  Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved sister Loretta, her brothers-in-law Laurence, Orden and Jack, and her nephew Brock.

Bev enjoyed 4 wheeling with Pup, watching Logan’s hockey games, a chat with her sister on the phone, a cup of coffee with Jerry on their front porch, watching a sunset at Lake Medora with Paige, playing games with her family over the holidays, getting her nails done with Alayna, joking around with Collin, a backyard campfire at Lori’s with a hot dog roast and a cold beer, singing along to a song on the radio, pontoon rides, garage saling, scrapbooking, picking berries in the UP, and posting FB recipes on her tablet. She brought light to every room she walked into as well as into every heart.

Bev loved being in a room full of people and held a profound love for her family.  She had a special bond with all who knew and loved her. Her favorite place was at the “Farm” where she spent countless hours surrounded by the love of her parents, siblings, children, grandkids and numerous nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews, extended family and friends who she leaves behind.

She had special relationships with her siblings Joan (friend Pucko), Lee (Judy), Bonnie (Dan), and Cheryl (Ron), and cherished moments spent with them individually and together, and appreciated the love and kindness they gave her during her recent illness.

Reid and Beverly shared a lifetime of memories with their children and grandchildren.  He was her life-long best friend and their bond never wavered. Although apart, they spoke multiple times daily until her last days. He gave her comfort, support, and laughter when she needed it most.

Bev was generous, kind, caring and thoughtful, and she passed that on to her daughter Leanne (Dave).  She was fun loving and the life of the party like her son Reid (Laura and step grand-sons Shawn and Casey).  Her zest for life was palpable and she lived each day to the fullest like her daughter Lori (Shannon) who gave her a kidney which gave us all 17 extra precious years with Bev.  She always shared a quote from her daughter, “You gave me life, and now I can give it back to you.”

She was a 2nd Mother to her grandson Logan who affectionately named her “Goodie” a name that stuck like the glue that holds us all together.  She was a loving grandmother and proud of all of her grandchildren. She shared a special bond with Logan (Callie), Collin, Paige, Alayna (Mitchell) and Mikaylee, and told us she just knew that Mikaylee would be a wonderful mother to her new great-granddaughter Journee Rose who was born last month.  She was also grateful for the special love and care and visits from Alayna and Collin in her last months.

She shared a special relationship with her niece Shelly (Kurt) and was a 2nd mother to her and a 2nd grandmother to their children, Ryan, Sarah and Brook after her dear sister Loretta’s passing.  She had a very close relationship with her daughter-in-law Laura. She loved the countless nights spent at the lake house with Amanda and Shawn and their 3 precious daughters Elli, Cali and Milli, her little rays of sunshine.  Her daughter-in-law Shannon gave with her whole heart her time, devotion and love to Goodie and supported her daughter Lori during the many trips to and from hospitals through each illness, and the daily visits over the last 5 months to keep Goodie’s spirits up.

In 2012, she moved downstate to be with “her” Jerry.  He was her companion and life partner. He was her rock, and he cared for her as she battled multiple health issues over the past 5 years.  Ever by her side, all who love Goodie, love Jerry for his devotion to her. Words cannot express the level of kindness and love he gave her.  We, her family are eternally grateful for the level of commitment he showed her.

A special thanks to all the kind healthcare workers at Genesys Hospital, Caretel Inns of Linden, DaVita Dialysis, the Mayo Clinic and Gift of Life Transplant House, Grace Hospice; and a huge thank you to the Wings of Mercy family for all of the flights to and from the Mayo Clinic.

Thank you to the family who came to visit her, to the extended family and friends who sent well-wishes and messages, and to all those who brought her peace, comfort and love in the last days of her life.  Cremation has taken place and a celebration of her life will be held this summer.

Goodie was loved by all who knew her.  She touched so many lives in such a special way.  Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only someone special like Goodie leaves footprints on your heart.

“You can shed a tear that she is gone,

Or you can smile because she lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back,

Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left behind.”