Rebecca Garrett

CHAMPAIGN - Rebecca Marie Garrett, 62, died Tuesday morning (Jan. 12, 2010) at her home, as was her wish. Born in Normal on Aug. 16, 1947, she was the fourth daughter of Dale and Frona Vetter, both now deceased.

In death she joins her husband, Michael Eric Garrett, who died in April 2008. The two were wed on Sept. 9, 1986; together they made a formidable team, undaunted by blindness and vision loss until illness overpowered them.

Known as Beckett to those who loved her, she was diagnosed with diabetes at age 8 and outlived her predicted life expectancy several times over by dint of sheer will, the love of her parents and her husband Mike, and the support of her primary physician Dr. Paul Wilson, her nephrologist Dr. Attia, her longtime diabetes educator Cathy Faulstich, and in recent months her counselor and comic sidekick Doug Yore.

A graduate of Goshen College, she earned her master's degree from the University of Michigan. A licensed social worker, she practiced in Paris and Bloomington, working at a mental health clinic, on a crisis team, and running a halfway house.

Despite the trials her diabetes placed upon her, Beckett remained to the end an independent spirit, an avid reader (thanks to home delivery by Champaign Public Library volunteers), and a true liberal as were her parents and husband. A lover of Mother Earth and all its creatures, over the years she had three cats, Krissy, Cyrus and, at the time of her death, the ultimate lapcat, Selina.

She leaves behind her maternal aunt, Rita Wannemacher; her cousin and honorary sister, Ann Nardulli, whose grandchildren Beckett found "better than antidepressants"; and the three other "Vetter girls," Judy Douglas, Sharon Ferguson and Ione Prawius and their children, Matthew ("phone buddy") and Justin Douglas, Tony and Jackie (Kuntz) Ferguson, and Herbert and Paula (Miller) Prawius.

Heath and Vaughn Funeral Home, 201 N. Elm, Champaign, assisted the family with arrangements.

Condolences to Beckett's family may be offered at www.heathandvaughn.com.