Pearl L. Beert

With great sadness, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Pearl Lorain Beert (née Thompson), who peacefully left us on August 31, 2025, at the age of 96. She was born on January 22, 1929, in Oquawka, Illinois, and lived a life full of love and devotion to family and friends, a love of learning, and a passion for creating beauty in the everyday.

Pearl was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. The daughter of Delbert and Grace (Billings) Thompson, she married Carl J. Beert, with whom she shared 43 years of marriage and family life until his passing 33 years ago. Together they raised their 6 children with care and fierce determination.

Pearl had a beautiful singing voice and sang with a band in high school and beyond. As a wife and mother, she was a dedicated homemaker who took pride in creating warm and welcoming spaces for family and friends to gather. She loved to entertain and applied her special talent for decorating, gardening and cooking, but her true passion was connecting with people and nurturing relationships.

As her children grew up she found her second calling as a librarian at Rockford College where she contributed to the academic community with diligence, care and enthusiasm. Her work reflected her lifetime curiosity and joy of learning, reading and appreciation for books and knowledge. Her greatest joy came from spending time with her family, she was cherished not only by her family but also by a close circle of friends and the Wesley Willows staff who knew her well and affectionately called her “Princess Pearl”.

Pearl was predeceased by her Parents, Sister Marilyn Stailey, Brother Leroy Thompson, husband Carl, their son Joseph Beert and son-in-law David Billingsley. She is lovingly remembered by her children Melissa Beert Billingsley, Patricia (Carl) Rinker, Daniel Beert, Michael Beert and Rachel Handlin, and Katherine (Jeff) Kusler; grandchildren Ian (Andrea) Beert; Aria Beert; Joseph Beert; Stephen Kusler; and Mackenzie (Luke) Kusler-Grigore; great granddaughters Kiley Beert and Genevieve Grigore; and many Nieces, Nephews, and friends. Her legacy continues through each of them.

A celebration of life service will be held at a later time.