Beverly Jo Michelli

November 01, 1947 – March 13, 2023

Beverly Jo Michelli, 75, of Alpine, California, passed away on Monday, March 13, 2023, comforted with the support of her children, grandchildren, family and lifelong friends.

Beverly Jo was born November 1, 1947 to Joseph D. Mangini and Jennie Morreale, who everyone close knew as Flave. Her father was an accomplished businessman who shared his success through the support of local Chicago charities. Her mother was a devoted spouse who maintained family ties and Italian traditions while keeping a happy home open to all. Beverly adopted the best of her family’s strengths with pride and compassion.

In her early teenage years, Beverly’s heart was bound to her soulmate, John A. Michelli, with whom she shared 52 years of a loving marriage. Together they raised two amazing daughters, Jessica Rachel and Jennifer Rebecca, and were blessed with several years to support and nurture their four grandchildren: Aubrey, Logan, Giovanni, and Deangelo. Her sons-in-law Cordell and Marc became some of her best friends and fulfilled her hopes for a strong family.

Beverly knew that a woman’s place was in the home: one that formed a supportive space for her daughters to grow and learn, to challenge both the system and themselves. Nightly dinners were a time to share successes and struggles, discuss the day-to-day of the outside world, and debate important issues. The Michelli home was a place for friends and friends-of-friends to gather at any hour, the teen hangout, for large family holidays often with an epic Trivial Pursuit battle of the sexes, and where you always felt welcome as part of the family.

Beverly knew a woman’s place was in the workplace: From assisting in the family inventory business and charity operations, her studies at De Paul University, and the years excelling in her first career advancing to vice president at an office supply company. Beverly’s passion to be of service led to a mid-life career change and more than fifteen years as the Youth Minister at Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Alpine. Beverly had a fiery but always inclusive spirit that was both infectious and inspiring. Through all of her career milestones, a point of pride was that she built connections and others could always rely on her council and support.

Beverly knew that a woman’s place was to be engaged in social issues: From volunteering at her father’s charity The Mangini Center for Youth in Chicago, collegiate work with political campaigns in Illinois, the Women’s Marches, breast cancer and Parkinson’s supports (personally touched by both), to many other causes for people in need to make the world a better place. She believed a person’s vote was a brilliant beacon of hope, and all people should be seen and supported.

Most of all, Beverly knew that a woman’s place was anywhere she chose to be. Her favorite place was with family. It didn’t matter where we were, or what we were doing, as long as we were together. Beverly loved giving her time to nurture and support the youth under her care. As the President of the PTA at her daughters’ school, attending every event the girls participated in, and shepherding hundreds of teens through the Confirmation process and arranging numerous volunteer opportunities and experiences for the youth at Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Beverly’s outgoing and cheerful personality was welcoming to everyone she encountered.

Later in life, Beverly would proudly proclaim there was no greater role in life than that of Grandma. Decades of experience and compassion brought ready laughter and endless love to build a supportive nest for her young grandchildren to grow and thrive in school, in sports, and in life. Weekly “grandma days” included trips to the Zoo or reading to therapy dogs at the local library, a stop at the market, or board games before dinner. Grandma was chauffer, babysitter, role model, treat provider, confidant, and their biggest fan.

Beverly was preceded in death by her husband John, and is survived by her daughter Jessica Falk Michelli (Cordell Falk), her daughter Jennifer Martignetti (Marc Martignetti), her brother James Mangini (Cindy Walters-Mangini), and grandchildren Aubrey, Logan, Giovanni, and Deangelo.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Michelli family may be shared at www.elcajonmortuary.com.

In lieu of flowers please consider supporting Beverly’s legacy with a donation to her favorite charity, Heifer International, at www.heifer.org, which provides sustainable assistance around the world, or to the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s at www.davisphinneyfoundation.org, which provides support and resources for both those afflicted and affected by Parkinson’s Disease.

A Funeral Mass for Beverly will be celebrated Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at 1:30pm at Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Alpine, CA, with a luncheon reception to follow in the parish hall.