Beverly Baggio

Beverly J. "Bev" Baggio (née Kemper), 79, of Cherry Valley died peacefully after a short illness at SwedishAmerican Hospital on December 23, 2015, in Rockford, Illinois. Beverly is survived by her husband, Giordano "Gordie" Baggio of Cherry Valley; sons, Daniel (Jina) Baggio of Huntley and Steven (Jody) Kempin of Rockford; sister, Judith (James) Geaschel of Cherry Valley; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Daniel E. Kemper and Alice E. (née White) Kemper of Cherry Valley, Illinois. Beverly was born July 18, 1936, in East St. Louis, Illinois to Daniel E. Kemper and Alice E. (née White) Kemper. She moved from East St. Louis to Rockford in 1953, and graduated from Rockford West High School in 1954, followed by two years of attendance at Rockford College. She married Giordano "Gordie" Baggio shortly thereafter and worked fulltime over her entire adult life, mostly in the finance business, culminating with her retirement as the business manager at St. Anthony's Hospital (OSF), Rockford, IL, all while simultaneously raising her family. The family moved from Rockford to Cherry Valley in 1964. She was a loving wife, daughter, mother, sister, aunt, sister-in-law, grandmother and a loyal friend. In addition to being an inspirational parent, as a former Cub Scout Den Leader for several years, she always encouraged children to do their best at whatever they chose to do. Funeral Service at 1 p.m. Tuesday, December 29, 2015, at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd, Rockford, Illinois. Burial will be in Arlington Memorial Park Cemetery, 6202 Charles St., Rockford, Illinois. Visitation will be from noon Tuesday until the time of service. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Bev's life. -