Beverly M. Cherwinski

Beverly Mae (Hysell) Cherwinski, 81 of Vanderbilt, passed away Friday, November 14, 2025, at Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital, in Grand Rapids.

Born in Alba, Michigan on November 15, 1943, Bev was the daughter of Ray and Ida (McLellan) Hysell. A lifelong area resident, Bev graduated from Vanderbilt High school in 1988 after completing her GED

On April 21, 1962, Bev married Richard D. Cherwinski at St. Andrew Episcopal Church in Gaylord. They have lived in Vanderbilt for 63 years, where they raised their two children.

Bev worked as an assistant to Dr. Jin Moon and as a nurse attendant at the state home in Gaylord. She was also an assistant to the Vanderbilt Community Education Program director. For over 25 years she worked as a volunteer with the Otsego Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.

As a 1999 lung transplant recipient, Bev was very active in local and state organ transplant organizations, and a strong supporter of organ transplant in general. She served for 6 years on Governor Snyder’s Board of Respiratory Care and was the founder and leader of the Organ Transplant Group of Northern Michigan. In later years, Bev most enjoyed spending time with her family, especially being a grandmother to her grandchildren.

She is survived by Richard, her husband of 63 years; her children, Suzanne (Jon) Coveyou of Petoskey, and Dareck (Kristin) Cherwinski of East Tawas; grandchildren, Tai Coveyou of Parker, CO, Maeli Coveyou of Petoskey; Keegan Cherwinski of East Tawas, and Zane (Kristina) Debeck; great grandchildren Tessa and Sophia of Bourbonais, IL; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother and step-father, Ida (Henry) Estell; and her father, Ray Hysell; sisters, Elizabeth Carriveau, and Shirley Aittama; and brothers, Robert Hysell, Kenneth Hysell, and Claud “Bud” Hysell.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, November 21, 2025 at Gaylord Community Funeral Home & Cremation Service, where visitation will begin at 10:00 AM. Private interment will follow at Evergreen Hill Cemetery, Corwith Township.

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