ROCHESTER, NY — “Powerhouse” Beverly Ann Powers Navarro, age 89, Brighton NY, Honeoye Falls NY, Auburn NY, and Carthage NY, went to be with her Lord, on Jan. 30, 2020.
She was predeceased by her parents Joseph and Theadosha (Koscelny) Powers (Pasneski) and her only sister Marie (Gerald) Haefner.
She is survived by her indomitable six (6) children; Jeanine Navarro Richardson (Honeoye Falls NY) , Carol (Daniel) Adams (Burnet TX), Noelle (Sharon Vuono) Navarro (Columbia MD), Kathryn Navarro (Gates NY), Daniel (Marie) Navarro (Kansas City MO), and Diane (Steve Gates) Navarro (Chili NY), twelve (12) amazing grandchildren; Joseph Richardson (Auburn NY), Thomas Solich (Haiku HI), and Ryan (Julie) Solich (Alberquerque NM), Moses Cohen (Salisbury MD) and James Cohen (Fl), Nate, Daniel, Kristie, and David DeHond (Rochester NY), Lina, Siena and Jenna Navarro (KC MO), and two (2) delightful great grandchildren; Joseph Navarro Richardson and Jaina DeHond. As well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and loved ones.
She especially appreciated her caregivers Audrey Griffin, Mary Scheuerman, Allison Frank, Connie Mottshaw and Autumn Tuttle these last months as she declined. They cared lovingly, pampered excessively, played games like “torture bridge, scrabbling scrabble, and killer parcheesi”, encouraged her, prayed with her and brought her to tears of laughter.
She graduated with honors in 1949 from Nazareth academy, Rochester NY. She received musical scholarship from the Eastman school of music, and studied there from 1944-48. Her father declined her Eastman scholarship, as he said she “needed a husband not a musician”. Later she took summer classes while her kids were at summer camp and earned her composition and performance certificates. She received acclaim for her pianist abilities, playing concerts first in Eastman’s Kilbourn Hall and then in various venues in Upstate NY.
While in HS she was encouraged to become a nun, but after six months in the St Joseph’s convent, she withdrew to attend SUNY Brockport, where she received her BA in General Education from teachers college around 1954. At Brockport she meant and married Dan Navarro (Divorced 1975?) (He Died 10/16), who was a PE major, and they moved to Carthage NY to start their teaching career. She taught (1963-1971) Music, Math, Art and General Education at all levels in Carthage NY. Where she directed for many years the high school plays.
She has earned her master degree certification in Music (1977), Kindergarten (1954), elementary Grades 1-6 Ed (1954) Math grades 7-12 (1970), and public administration from Syracuse University, Potsdam SUNY and Brockport.
She loved playing bridge and was president of the bridge club in Carthage NY for several years. An interesting fact was the first JRECK (named after teachers Jerry, Ron, Ellie, Carl and Keith) sub bus was refurbished on their farm. That bus started the JRECK corporation that still exists today!
The Navarro’s relocated to Auburn NY in 1970. Beverly finally retired 1992 from teaching at Auburn City Schools. She was thrilled to have, as her end of life doctor, Dr. Brenda (Bove) Baratta. One of her Seward middle school math students. Whom she clearly remembered having a 102% average!
She taught piano, played piano, at the the Springfield Inn(Auburn NY) and the Sherwood Inn (Skaneateles NY) for many years, and was involve in the Auburn Carrousel Theatre. She often held three to five jobs consistently, to support her children’s avid athletic endeavors. Seeing her six kids participate in sports, (often at the same time-different sports), was one of her greatest joys. All six children were Auburn High athletic letter winners and several received Athletic scholarships.
Beverly taught thousands of people throughout her lifetime how to sing, play piano, bridge, math, and especially, till her last breaths grammar! She was a certified Masters level bridge player. She loved to entertain her family and daily played at dinner time for her neighbors at The Gables of Brighton.
Finally, most importantly, was her faith in God, from which all of her children founded their variations of beliefs. She received a personal voice, violin, and piano concert, by the precious Lee family, a day before her death. Her final days were filled with many cherished ones coming to her bedside speaking words of appreciation and love. She has finished her race. “Well done good and faithful servant.” (Matt 25:23)
The burial service will be held 3 p.m., Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, in Whitehaven Memorial Park Chapel, 210 Marsh Rd., Pittsford, NY.
Following the burial, at 5:00 PM, there will be a “Celebration of Life” service at Henrietta Christian Fellowship, 1085 Middle Rd, Rush NY 14543 with a pot luck meal to follow.
Please if you are so led, bring your Beverly stories to share or place a memory on mertonkaysfuneralhome.com or www.bezanillafh.com
Memorial donations can be received through Henrietta Christian Fellowship, PO Box 282, Fairport, NY 14450.