Beverly "Bev" Quentin Von Ende died peacefully on October 27, 2024. Though dementia clouded her memory in recent years, her radiant spirit still shone brightly. At Arden Courts in Bloomfield Hills, her final home, she was beloved by staff and residents alike as “the sweetest woman” and the “life of the party.”

Bev is now joyfully reunited with her late husband, Deacon Michael Von Ende. We imagine them together again, dancing through the stars to jazz standards and Neil Diamond tunes, just as they would have wanted. Bev and Mike met at the University of Minnesota in the Journalism School, and their love story began, blossoming into a marriage that lasted from 1967 until Mike’s passing in 2021.

Bev never liked the name Beverly, but she loved her family roots. She grew up on the grounds of a training school for boys in Red Wing, Minnesota, where her parents, Matt and Minnie Nelson, raised her with love and laughter. Some of her happiest memories were dancing with her mother in the kitchen, both competing to see who could kick their legs the highest. This spirited joy stayed with Bev throughout her life.

Her journalism dreams took a back seat when motherhood called in 1969. In those early years, she channeled her creativity into painting, filling the family’s walls with her art. Her eldest daughter, Aimee, recalls spending afternoons as a child drawing or coloring alongside her mother, with Barry Manilow’s “I Write the Songs” playing in the background.

Once her daughters could let themselves in after school, Bev returned to work, taking on a role as a public relations specialist for Bloomfield Hills Schools. Through her warmth and talent, she built lasting friendships at work and within the neighborhood, including one that would eventually lead her to a new, and very pink, career path.

In 1981, Bev became a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant, a role that allowed her to combine her passion for helping others with her vibrant personality. She advanced to Senior Sales Director earning numerous awards—and even a few cars, including a beautiful pink Buick. She took pride in empowering women and cherished the friendships she built along the way.

When her grandchildren arrived, Bev’s focus shifted to her beloved family once again. Her grandchildren always felt their Nana’s warmth and care. Beth’s children, Alexandra and Michael, loved spending days with their Nana while Beth worked. Aimee and Dino recall their daughters, Isabella and Ava, who remember summer car trips to visit family in Minnesota.

When Mike died, Beth became Bev’s daily caregiver and moved her to a beautiful place near her home. She and Dale Schwartz made sure Bev had everything she needed. She was loved and cared for beyond all measure.

Bev was a loving wife, a cherished mother, a doting grandmother, and a friend to all who knew her. She painted a beautiful life, filled with laughter, love, and memories that will forever color the hearts of those who knew her.

A Funeral Mass will be held for Bev Von Ende on Thursday, October 31st, at 11:00 a.m. with a viewing at 10:00 a.m. at St. Owen Catholic Church, 6869 Franklin Rd., Bloomfield Hills. Burial will follow in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bev’s name are appreciated to Alzheimer’s Association because she would have undoubtedly loved to have recalled more of her time on this earth.