Beverly J. Palazzolo

Beverly J. Palazzolo (née Smith), age 98, passed away peacefully on May 25, 2026, with her loving family at her side. She lived a life full of genuine kindness, deep faith, and endless laughter. She always found the positive in each day and taught everyone around her that “the more you laugh, the happier your life will be.”

Early Life & A Remarkable Youth

Beverly was born in Vincennes, Indiana, on November 13, 1927, to Charles Melvin and Mary Ellen Smith. She grew up with fond memories of a simple life filled with family, chores, and music. Her father ran a local dance hall, and she loved helping him and her grandfather make their own beer while listening to the musicians play.

In 1931, her family moved to Detroit, Michigan. As a young girl in the second grade, Beverly took a hectic train ride downtown with her mother to see President Franklin D. Roosevelt speak. A Secret Service agent noticed them struggling through the heavy crowds and personally escorted them to the front. As the motorcade passed by, Beverly got a direct wave from the President—a moment and a face she never forgot.

Beverly attended St. Bernard School from second grade through high school graduation in 1945. When her father left the family during her freshman year, times became very tough. Determined to stay at her beloved school, 14-year-old Beverly struck a deal with the nuns. Every day after school, she cleaned classrooms to pay her own tuition. She walked to the bus station and took a streetcar downtown and back daily, showing the incredible strength and resilience that defined her life.

A Proud Nursing Career

At age 17, Beverly joined the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps to support the World War II effort. She was deeply proud to wear the Maltese Cross symbol, which represented eight Christian blessings and virtues. She graduated as a Registered Nurse from St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in June 1948.

Beverly began her career working grueling 10-hour shifts in Labor and Delivery, earning just $40 for a 50-hour work week. She later moved to the hospital’s “4 North Unit,” an early form of an intensive care unit. There, she provided tender care to terminally ill patients and wounded soldiers returning home from the war. During this time, she witnessed the introduction of Penicillin and the invention of the kidney dialysis machine, always calling them true medical miracles.

After taking time off to raise her five children—a role she called her “best job ever”—Beverly returned to nursing. She worked as a skilled “float RN” across all units at St. John’s Hospital and briefly at Bon Secours Hospital. She loved the challenge and even had the honor of caring for a high-profile visiting foreign diplomat who fell ill while in Detroit.

Family, Faith, and “Firsts”

Beverly met the love of her life, Jerome Palazzolo, in 1946 while she was in nursing school and he was serving in the Army Air Corps. They married on June 11, 1949, and shared 65 beautiful years of marriage before his passing in 2014.

Together, they raised their family on Avalon Avenue in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. Beverly loved the bustling neighborhood filled with large families and worked hard to send her children to Catholic schools. Her home was always alive with trips up north, Little League baseball, and musical activities.

Beverly loved to share stories of the incredible history she witnessed. Her grandchildren loved hearing about all of her “firsts”—including her first home with running water, her first ride in a car, and her first time seeing a television, telephone, supermarket, and airplane. Through it all, her Catholic faith kept her grounded, and she always kept her rosary by her side.

A Vibrant Later Life

Beverly never let age slow her down. Later in life, she and Jerome moved to Toledo, Ohio, where she worked for the American Red Cross doing blood drives across Ohio and Michigan with her dear fellow Detroit nurse transplants.

Eventually, they moved to Moongate Senior Living in Temperance, Michigan, and spent over 20 years enjoying winters in Ft. Myers, Florida where Beverly made wonderful, close friends. She was an avid golfer for 30 years and served as the treasurer of her league. She played Bridge for 35 years, loved Pinochle and Euchre, and was always ready for Bingo or a trip to the casino to play poker slots and blackjack. Even up until her passing, she enjoyed Taco and Margarita Mondays at Sidelines and Saturday nights sharing a beer with her tight-knit group of friends.

Beverly loved to travel and took her final cruise at the amazing age of 92. While on board, she entered and won a ship modeling contest, taking home the beautiful outfit she modeled as her prize.

Family Legacy

Beverly was preceded in death by her loving husband, Jerome Palazzolo; her parents; her brother, Robert Smith; and her grandson, Nicholas.

She leaves behind a large, loving family who will miss her dearly, including:

• Her brother, Gerald Smith.
• Her 5 children: Thomas (Sheila) Palazzolo, Steve Palazzolo, Alan (Esther) Palazzolo, Jerome (Marilyn) Palazzolo, and Marianne (Jim) Molnar.
• Her 9 grandchildren: TJ, Alan, Havila, Stephanie, Elizabeth, Justin, Benjamin, Angela, and James.
• Her 5 great-grandchildren: Catalina, Maverick, Lucy, Hawthorne, and Mia.

Service Information

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Beverly’s incredible life during the following services:

• Viewing: Sunday, May 31, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Urbanski Bedford Funeral Chapel. A special Nursing Honor Guard Ceremony will take place at 6:30 PM.
• Funeral Mass: Monday, June 1, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church. Beverly will lie in state at the church for one hour prior to the mass, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
• Burial: A graveside committal service will be held at a future date.
• Donations may be made to St. Judes Children’s Hospital.