Beverley Mae Vlastos

Beverley passed away peacefully July 9, 2014 in Petaluma at the age of 84. A fourth generation native, Beverley grew up in Depression-era rural Petaluma, in a widely-scattered yet closely-knit farm community. Her childhood country background and her later polish as a seasoned European traveler made her a fascinating woman, full of entertaining and often hilarious tales of Rosie, the pet rooster she dressed in doll clothes, eccentric customers she met during her decades of working as a bookkeeper at Weller-Hopkins Furniture Store, and travel mishaps that included her famous and oh so smelly slip-and-slide down a donkey trail made slick with a thick layer of wet donkey poo in Greece. Beverley was warm, friendly and hospitable. She made friends easily, and made them for life. She was known for her skills in the kitchen, and she made every family holiday memorable. She had a number of dishes that were constantly-requested family favorites, but there was one recipe she made only once, even though it was immensely successful. She found homemade sweet pickles to be so labor-intensive, she swore she would never make them again in her lifetime… and now we know she meant it. Beverley married her high school heartthrob Wilbur when she was twenty. When Wil started showing signs of dementia 15 years ago, she became his care-giver. Arthritis and mobility issues slowed her down and eventually confined her to a wheelchair, yet Beverley insisted upon continuing to care for her husband. A fall put Beverley into the hospital and then a nursing home, and she was devastated to be separated from her Wil. With her trademark determination, when she realized at last that she could no longer care for her sweetheart, and that her frail, exhausted body would no longer serve her, she left it. Beverley and Wilbur had been married for nearly 64 years. In addition to her husband Wilbur, Beverley is survived by her daughters Nancy Vlastos, Diane Pelham and Annette (Michael) Davis, grandchildren Dennis (Kellie) Pelham, Gillian Pelham and Monisa (Paul) Sturm, great grandchildren Nathaniel and Ethan Pelham and Tyler, Meagan, Nicole and Gabrielle Sturm and her beloved sister Shirley Gibbs. Beverley was the daughter of Charles Glenn Ronsheimer and Alma (Momsen) Ronsheimer Siemer, granddaughter of Charles and Anna (Clausen) Momsen and C.W. and Ida (Waite) Ronsheimer and the great granddaughter of Anton and Maria (Schaefer) Ronsheimer, early pioneer settlers of Penngrove. At Beverley's request there will be no funeral service. Also at her request, a dinner for family and close friends will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers please send a donation to your favorite charity.