Joretta Marie Beck

If you subscribe to Joretta Marie Beck’s opinion that “a good life is measured by the friends you meet,” then you’d agree that she lived a life beyond measure. Joretta drew people to her with her optimistic, light-hearted personality. She never met a stranger… to her, a stranger was a friend waiting to be made, a conversation waiting to be held, and an experience yet to be shared. Just meeting for the first time? It didn’t matter – once she met you, you mattered to her. She made you feel like you’d be in her life forever.

An only child, Joretta knew family was not just something you were born into, it could be made through shared laughter and memories. She knew the privilege of having family close was not one to be taken lightly after losing both her father and her husband at a young age. Although she enjoyed wonderful times surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins when she was young, they were much older (than she was) and she was left with little family for much of her life. However Joretta wasn’t one to settle for solitude… with her gregarious personality and heartfelt care for those around her, Joretta was energized by the interactions she had with friends old, new, and yet to be made. She loved people, and relating to them fueled her very being. She could chatter away for hours if she had someone to listen, but when she was done with a topic, she was really DONE!

She found the perfect home for her gift of making everyone around her feel special and cared for when she worked as an administrative assistant for Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes for 25 years, helping people through their greatest times of grief.

It was no surprise that people loved the time they spent with her… she always saw the best in others. When you were with her, you knew she cared about you more than anything. Her interest was always on you – never herself – and she truly cared about the answer when she asked a question. She was a petite lady – but she sure could squeeze when she delivered one of her hugs – which she doled out often. Treats for her yard man, her cleaning lady, and anyone else who helped her were also never in short supply. Her bubbly wit and vibrant, outgoing personality were a constant.

Joretta’s energy and fun-loving side was equally matched by her kind, thoughtful empathy. As mother to three children, Lori, Brian, and Marty, Joretta had plenty of reasons to lose her cool over the years (as mothers always do), but Joretta didn’t get angry. When her youngest child left sneakers on the roof of the car, they retraced their drive, found the shoes on the side of the road… and went to get ice cream. Her gentle support could always be counted on… from putting on a clip-on tie, to braving Cub Scouts as the new kid who didn’t know anyone, Joretta was always there in the little moments that mattered. When walking down the beach at Lake Michigan, though the sand was hot and the water was cold, she knew how to make it not matter quite so much. Family meant everything to Joretta. Her kitchen was often filled with the smells of homemade soups, beef stroganoff… and liver and onions every other week to her children’s chagrin. When hard times came along, a reminder that “this too shall pass” was encouragement to carry on. And expectations to maintain proper decorum - from a full dining arrangement for the youngest children, to admonishments that there is no X-mas as there can be no Christmas without Christ – were the norm. Through a lifetime of these moments, Joretta taught her children how to raise loving families and she was blessed to become a grandmother to seven wonderful grandchildren and three cherished great-grandchildren.

Although she often enjoyed the outdoors and was very content sitting on her porch or reading a good John Grisham novel by the fireplace or in her backyard swing, Joretta loved doing her best to have every experience in life she could. After meeting and marrying the love of her life, her husband Curtis, Joretta spent her first years after college at Michigan State University in France. But her favorite overseas travel was to Ireland (Erin Go Bragh!) Joretta made wonderful memories spending many great years going to Lynches Pub & Grub in St. Armands Circle, Florida on St. Patrick’s Day and spending summers in Holland, Michigan. She loved to recount stories of her adventures over dinner at any restaurant in town or even over a 4 o’clock glass of wine with friends and family at home. She enjoyed a lifetime of musical interests and was a pianist, organist, choir and chorale member over the years, singing at weddings and funerals. Pictures prove that even from a very young age, Joretta loved singing, dancing, and playing the piano. From bridge clubs to volunteering for school activities, Joretta relished any opportunity to be social.

Joretta enjoyed life and all it offered, and had faith and thankfulness for everyday blessings and happinesses. Most importantly, Joretta knew whom to thank for the amazing life she was blessed to live. God was always first in her life. She was fervently devoted, starting each day with a morning prayer, ending with a bedtime prayer, and celebrating Mass in-between. She believed without fail that through God all things are possible and one need only reach out in prayer to Him. One of her greatest accomplishments was knowing that she raised her children to be Christ-like and treat everyone with love and respect.

Joretta lived every day guided by the belief that “every day is a new day… so make the most of it.” From April 1, 1931 to December 2, 2022, she did just that. She now joins the family with whom she has waited so long to be reunited, including her husband Curtis, her parents Joseph and Loretta (Conklin) Cuddohy and her brother-in-law, Rodney Beck.

She is loved and missed by the family she leaves with wonderful memories: daughter, Lori (Gary) Mandley; sons, Brian (Kim) Beck, and Marty (Brenda) Beck; grandchildren, Allison (Charles) Stafford, Sarah Mandley, Michael Mandley, Brian “BJ” (Lauren) Beck, Kacie Beck, Sydney Beck, and Alexis Beck; great-grandchildren, Robert Stafford, Teddy Stafford, and Sloane Beck; sister-in-law Roxanne Beck; nieces, Sandy Haginas and Kathy (David) Goodman; numerous cousins, close friends, and associates of Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes.

A celebration of an amazing life and a well-loved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend will begin with visitation on Sunday, December 11 from 4pm – 8 pm at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, 1730 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing. A rosary will be prayed at 7 PM. A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, December 12 at 11 am at St. Thomas Aquinas, 955 Alton Road, East Lansing, MI. Visitation will also be available one hour prior to the Mass. Rev. Andrew Czajkowski (a fellow member of the OCC – the only child club) and Rev. Karl Pung, both dear friends who walked life’s journey with Joretta, will officiate the services.

Those desiring may make contributions in memory of Joretta to St. Thomas Aquinas Outreach Mass or St. Thomas Aquinas School, 955 Alton Road, East Lansing, MI 48823.

Hers was an amazing life and she couldn’t have asked for more… In her own words, as she ended many conversations, “You know what I mean?”

Online condolences may be made at www.greastlansing.com