Beverly Jean Monetti

Beverly Jean Monetti, formerly Wood, passed away peacefully on April 29, 2025, in Houston, Texas, at the age of 76. Born on July 13, 1948, in Seattle, Washington, to Jack Earl and Margaret Theresa Wood, Beverly often joked she wished they had named her Holly—“Holly Wood”—because she dreamed of being a star.

When Bev was a child she showed an independent and playful sense of adventure. At just seven years old, she walked alone to Pritchard Beach on Lake Washington, swimming between the legs of strangers with fearless delight. As a teenager, she practiced her dance moves at night in her parents’ living room window—using the reflection to perfect her technique, unconcerned (or maybe unaware) that the entire neighborhood might be watching. She snuck out to see Paul Revere and the Raiders at the legendary Spanish Castle and danced until her feet were sore.

Married at 18, Beverly became the proud mother of three children—Margaret Tolleshaug, Jack Monetti, and Davindia Steele (also known as Lucia). She often said they were “the best accomplishments of her life.” A devoted mother and wife, Beverly poured her love into the details of family life: painting Christmas scenes on the windows, hand-dyeing Easter eggs, blaring music while cleaning the house, and cooking up her famous macaroni salad for the Fourth of July and every special occasion in between. Summers were filled with fresh mint iced tea from her garden and homemade summer tops for her girls. She wasn’t afraid to roll up her sleeves—whether building a deck, changing a light fixture, or planting a massive backyard garden, she tackled it all with vision and determination.

Bev’s love didn’t stop with her children—it expanded to their partners, whom she welcomed into the family with open arms and an open heart. She loved her sons- and daughter-in-law—Mark Tolleshaug, Paula Monetti, and Cameron Steele—not as in-laws, but as part of her own. Whether through laughter around the dinner table, playful banter and support, she made sure they knew they belonged.

Not too much later in life, Bev became a grandmother. She cherished each of her grandchildren—Clyde Smith, Ian Tolleshaug, Jadon Steele, Angelina Monetti, Adriana Monetti, Phoenix Steele, Paulina Monetti, Gianni Monetti and bonus granddaughter Tia Steele— she didn’t wait for the kids to come to her. She brought the joy to them. Whether she was building living room forts, curling up for movie nights with Red Vines and a bucket of homemade popcorn and sometimes too much butter, or delivering her signature storytelling lessons on how bees make honey, she created magic wherever she went. Her visits were always wrapped in love. Easter baskets arrived like clockwork each spring, no matter how far she had to travel or how grown the kids had become. She didn’t just mark the moments—she packed warmth, and playfulness into the everyday lives of her grandchildren. She was also blessed with two great-grandchildren, Cecelia Smith and Zinnia Smith, who brought light to her later years.

Bev had a way of making everyone feel seen, welcomed, and loved. She left an indelible impression on all who met her. Even as she worked in checkout at the grocery store, she met every customer with a smile. The words most often used to describe her were “sweet,” “bubbly,” and “life of the party.” One of her closest childhood friends once described her as “Disneyland on crack”—a phrase she wore like a badge of honor.

Though her final years she found herself in an impossible situation being trapped in her body, Bev never let her spirit falter, as her heart led with kindness, and her energy remained buoyant. Her absence leaves an ache that words can’t express, but her legacy—the joy, laughter, and irresistible spark she brought to this world—lives on in the many lives she touched.

Her family takes comfort in knowing that Bev is now dancing freely again, but this time with the stars.