Beverly Jane (Roddy) Carey

Beverly Jane Carey

July 23, 1929 – December 9, 2023

Never one to leave a party early, Beverly Jane Carey made sure she had 94 years of celebrations to attend until God peacefully called her home to the party that will never end.

Bev, as she was known, was a child of the Great Depression and carved deep life lessons from a childhood fraught with financial hardship. She valued hard work, frugality and (what may have been regrettable for her children) culinary improvisation when ingredients were scarce...pancakes and sardines, anyone?

A fervent fan of the Green and Gold, some people wondered if she loved #4 more than any of her own children.  No!  Well...sometimes?

Levity aside, Bev was a strong, steadfast and successfully independent woman with a wickedly dry sense of humor.  She raised six children practically on her own, welcoming ten grandchildren and five (soon to be six) great-grandchildren.  She was a diligent and trusted employee, working well into her seventies before finally deciding to retire.

Her faith carried her through the tough times and her family buoyed her in the good times.  Family was so vitally important to her, she refused an early exit from any family gathering, large or small.  While she was incredibly proud of her Irish heritage, she never employed an "Irish Goodbye." She was the quiet center of our storm, never seeking the spotlight, but always happy to be in the swirl of laughter and conversation.

Beverly is preceded in death by her parents, Adeline and Cyrus Roddy and her brother, James Roddy.  She is survived by her children Michele (Ron) Puibello, Patrick, Kathlynn (Terry) Flanagan, Kathleen, Colette and Bridget (RD) Ruffin, her ten grandchildren and her five great-grandchildren – to whom she was their beloved Gigi. 

While her children will continue some of her treasured traditions - honoring her love of the Fourth of July, a good fish fry any time of year, and the occasional chocolate malt - sadly, her annual New Year's Eve snack of marinated herring on a saltine cracker (for good luck), will go along with her to the afterlife.

A visitation with the family will take place on Saturday, December 23 at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church at 2490 N. Cramer Street, Milwaukee, 53211 from 10:30 to noon.  The visitation will be followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at noon.  Beverly's remains will be interred in the Columbarium at St. Francis Borgia Cemetery in Cedarburg at a date to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations in her name to the Wisconsin Humane Society.

Rest in God's eternal peace, dear Mother, Grandma and Gigi.