“There are some who bring a light so great to the world, that even after they have gone, the light remains.”
Pam Beaver was born Aug. 9, 1954, and was ushered into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, with her adoring husband, Donny, at her side at 2 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021.
Pam NEVER met a stranger. Every person in the world, to her, was just a friend she hadn’t met yet. She always saw the good in people. Sometimes that’s all she would see, even if no one else could see it. (from “Sweet Reunion”)
If we’ve heard it once, we’ve heard it 10,000 times, “you only had to meet Pam Beaver one time to be changed forever.”
When searching for words to honor Pam’s legacy of a life well lived, her family and friends filled in all the blanks for me. Here is just a smattering of the hundreds of replies that are pouring in from across the country.
ö The best friend you could ever have
ö Her smile lights up every room
ö Someone you want in your corner when the chips are down
ö Second mom to scores of “kids”
ö Encourager
ö Great listener
ö Role model for countless girls and women
ö Unconditional love
ö Makes you feel you are the most important person in the world
ö The last person out of church every week
ö Matchmaker
ö Always “put together” (even at ballgames, grocery store and skiing)
ö Fashionista
ö Fierce
ö Sweet spirit
ö Godly woman
ö Beautiful inside and out
ö Kind
ö Salt of the earth
ö Generous
ö A true servant
ö The Hostess with the Mostess
ö Missionary
ö The best “messy cook” on the planet
ö She would always cook/bake 300% more than needed “because you never know who might drop in.”
ö Her “Death by Chocolate Cake” was world class
ö Her bold drive-by baby shower for Annie and CiCi in the depths of the pandemic lockdown
ö Host of countless sleepovers and pool parties
ö Best hugger in the universe
ö Quote, “When I got divorced, Pam tried to hook me up with several women. I told her I wasn’t ready or sure I would ever be. Pam said, ‘God has a special Christian woman for me and I deserved to be happy again’…and she was right.”
ö Classy
ö Best “Boy Mom”
ö Confidante
ö Always made me feel like I mattered in this world
ö Awesome gift-giver
ö Dog rescuer
ö She never passed judgment on others
ö The hands and feet of Jesus
ö Pam’s generosity had no bounds
ö I will miss her famous baked beans, sticky buns and “Pam Fansatics”
ö What drew you to Pam were her eyes. In those eyes you could see how genuine she was, how real.
Pam is the daughter of Bob (Silas Robert) and Donna Jean (Waite) McFarland. Donna is Pam & Donny’s next door neighbor whom Pam placed in charge of Donny’s cooking, washing, ironing, house sitting and dog walking.
She leaves behind her heartbroken love of her life, Donald Levant “Donny” Beaver.
Her baby brother, Silas Robert “Si” McFarland, and his wife, Peggy (Miller) McFarland, are left behind with their kids, Jared & wife, Courtney McFarland, with precious great-niece, Peyton, and Si and Peg’s younger son, Tyler (still “playing the field” but getting serious).
Pam’s immediate family includes Joshua Dietriech and his wife, Annie (Young), with their very active kids Julien, Brennan and Cadence Cleo Elizabeth “CiCi Princess Sunshine” in Bellwood, Pam’s baby boy, Troy Levant, and his wife, Jennine (Wedge), and their bundle of joy Caedmon Levant.
Pam adored her grandparents who passed before she did, Carl and Ruth McFarland and Virgil and Anna Waite.
She also left behind her sister- and brother-in-law, Cyndee and Bob Simpson.
She quietly donated her time, talents, heart and soul in service the past 47 years as:
ö Church nursery worker
ö Worship team singer
ö Choir member
ö Bible school server
ö Hands-committee meal organizer and preparer for sick and home-bound families
ö Board president for Precious Life Maternity Home
ö The wind beneath the wings of raising nearly $1 million for some of her favorite causes like Magee’s Womens’ Cancer Research, Project Healing Waters Wounded Veterans, Casting for Recovery breast cancer survivor fly fishing retreats, Frontline Ministries traumatic brain injury retreats and Hillside Community Church teen Bible camps.
ö Strong supporter of the International Fellowship of Christians & Jews
Some of Pam’s favorite Bible verses include:
ö “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” — Philippians 4:13
ö “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” — Hebrews 12:1-2
ö “As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me–the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.” — 2 Timothy 4:6-8
The list of her extended family and friends is too large to include before this paper’s deadline, but you can see them on Donny Beaver’s Facebook page. We plan a follow-up story of honoring Pam.
Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, at Hillside Community Church, 508 Cambria Street, Bellwood.
And from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021.
The celebration of Pam’s life will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the church, followed by lunch at Hillside Rec Building.
#PamStrong
In addition to flowers, please consider contributions to Precious Life at www.plinc.org or The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews at www.ifcj.org.
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