Beverly Ann Blockie

Beverly Ann Blockie passed away peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at her residence in San Jose. She was 91.

A native daughter of the Valley of Hearts Delight, Beverly lived a full, vibrant life in San Jose. She was born in Naglee Park, the eldest of Eleanor and Raymond Blockie, on October 20, 1933. The spirited mind that was her lifelong hallmark was honed in studies at Notre Dame High, San Jose State University, and, in later years, Foothill College.

A revered family matriarch, who ruled with affectionate sternness and razor-sharp humor, she raised five children in San Jose. She presided over and enriched the ensuing family of nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Her home was a frequent and beloved gathering spot for holidays, summer weekends, and birthdays.

She was also a leader in San Jose's volunteer, religious, and historical communities. Beverly served on the board of directors for the San Jose Woman's Club, following in her grandmother's footsteps, who was an original founder. A devout Catholic, she helped found the docent program at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph. In a region known for "moving fast and breaking things", Beverly was on the front lines of the preservation movement, successfully protecting landmarks crucial to San Jose and California history.

Despite pouring so much of her time and talent into her hometown, Beverly felt called to explore. To her grandchildren, the walls of her home were their first windows to the world, filled with artifacts of her expeditions. In between sojourns to Scotland, Japan, and New Zealand, she found refuge among California's redwoods and sequoias, coasts and mountains, in camping and cabin trips with family and friends.

Beverly's company was a rich one to share, in many spirited conversations over wine, Earl Grey tea, and her favorite burnt-almond cake from Dick's Bakery. Barbed and blunt opinions were always betrayed by a gemstone twinkle in her blue eyes. The company of others was her favorite adventure.

Beverly is preceded in death by her daughter, Catherine Azevedo. She is survived by her two younger brothers, Raymond and William, and her four children, Robert Azevedo, Thomas Azevedo, Michael Azevedo, and Patricia Kennedy. Her life will be celebrated in a Mass at Holy Family Church on Saturday, March 29th, at 10:00 in the morning.

In remembrance of Beverly's life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to the San Jose Woman's Club https://sjwomansclub.org/donate/ or the Preservation Action Council of San Jose https://www.preservation.org/donate