Official Obituary of
Gretajean DeRubeis
July 1, 1936 ~ November 10, 2018 (age 82) 82 Years Old
Gretajean DeRubeis Obituary
Gretajean DeRubeis, 82, of Palm Desert, CA, and Barnes, WI (formerly of Duluth, MN) passed away on Saturday, November 10, 2018, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
Gretajean was born on July 1, 1936, to Matthew and Wilhelmina (Bay) Torma in Eben Junction, MI. She graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood, MI in 1954 and moved on to Northern Michigan University, in Marquette, MI, where she earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education. Shortly after graduation, she married her beloved husband, Bernard J. DeRubeis, of Hurley, WI.
Gretajean taught elementary schools in Wakefield, MI, Minneapolis, MN, and for the majority of her career, in the Duluth Public School system.
Gretajean was a very kind, fun loving, and generous person who lit up a room whenever she entered. She was a great cook and hostess to the many relatives who enjoyed fun times when visiting Greta and Bernie at the cabin and/or in Palm Desert. The door was always open. She enjoyed her family, her friends, her cats, and splitting her time between her homes in the desert of Southern California and the woods of Northern Wisconsin. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends and will remain in their hearts forever.
Gretajean was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Bernard; parents; sister, Marijane Tomich; brother, Matthew Richard Torma; and nephews, Robert Matthew Tomich and Richard Ragnar Torma.
Gretajean is survived by sisters-in-law, MaryAnn Torma of Ironwood, MI and Lucia DeRubeis of Issaquah, WA; brothers-in-law, James (Ann) DeRubeis of Bellevue, WA, Eugene (Paula) DeRubeis of Janesville, WI and Peter (Carole) DeRubeis of Anoka, MN; nephews, Clark Matthew (Jodi) Torma of Ironwood, MI, Anthony DeRubeis of Bellevue, WI, Vincent (Kathleen) DeRubeis of Seattle, WA, Daniel (Jamie) DeRubeis of Middleton, WI, Michael (Michelle) DeRubeis of Janesville, WI and Charles (Erin) DeRubeis of Mounds View, MN; nieces, Heidi Marie Tomich of Henderson, NV, Catharine DeRubeis of Madison, WI and Andrea DeRubeis of Stevens Point, WI; great-nieces, Kayla (Chad) Lichtenberg of West Bend, WI, Ali Jo DeRubeis, Ellary (Nate) Scharenbrock of Green Bay, WI, Maria DeRubeis and Anita DeRubeis; great-nephews, Evan DeRubeis and Victor DeRubeis; great-great nephew, Ryder Lichtenberg; and great-great niece, Presley Lichtenberg.
Her family would like to thank all the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Solvay Hospice House in Duluth for their dedicated and loving care and support of Gretajean.
A private family celebration of life will be held. Please feel free to honor Gretajean with memorials to Solvay Hospice House, 801 Baylis St, Duluth, MN 55811.
Gretajean was born on July 1, 1936, to Matthew and Wilhelmina (Bay) Torma in Eben Junction, MI. She graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood, MI in 1954 and moved on to Northern Michigan University, in Marquette, MI, where she earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education. Shortly after graduation, she married her beloved husband, Bernard J. DeRubeis, of Hurley, WI.
Gretajean taught elementary schools in Wakefield, MI, Minneapolis, MN, and for the majority of her career, in the Duluth Public School system.
Gretajean was a very kind, fun loving, and generous person who lit up a room whenever she entered. She was a great cook and hostess to the many relatives who enjoyed fun times when visiting Greta and Bernie at the cabin and/or in Palm Desert. The door was always open. She enjoyed her family, her friends, her cats, and splitting her time between her homes in the desert of Southern California and the woods of Northern Wisconsin. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends and will remain in their hearts forever.
Gretajean was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Bernard; parents; sister, Marijane Tomich; brother, Matthew Richard Torma; and nephews, Robert Matthew Tomich and Richard Ragnar Torma.
Gretajean is survived by sisters-in-law, MaryAnn Torma of Ironwood, MI and Lucia DeRubeis of Issaquah, WA; brothers-in-law, James (Ann) DeRubeis of Bellevue, WA, Eugene (Paula) DeRubeis of Janesville, WI and Peter (Carole) DeRubeis of Anoka, MN; nephews, Clark Matthew (Jodi) Torma of Ironwood, MI, Anthony DeRubeis of Bellevue, WI, Vincent (Kathleen) DeRubeis of Seattle, WA, Daniel (Jamie) DeRubeis of Middleton, WI, Michael (Michelle) DeRubeis of Janesville, WI and Charles (Erin) DeRubeis of Mounds View, MN; nieces, Heidi Marie Tomich of Henderson, NV, Catharine DeRubeis of Madison, WI and Andrea DeRubeis of Stevens Point, WI; great-nieces, Kayla (Chad) Lichtenberg of West Bend, WI, Ali Jo DeRubeis, Ellary (Nate) Scharenbrock of Green Bay, WI, Maria DeRubeis and Anita DeRubeis; great-nephews, Evan DeRubeis and Victor DeRubeis; great-great nephew, Ryder Lichtenberg; and great-great niece, Presley Lichtenberg.
Her family would like to thank all the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Solvay Hospice House in Duluth for their dedicated and loving care and support of Gretajean.
A private family celebration of life will be held. Please feel free to honor Gretajean with memorials to Solvay Hospice House, 801 Baylis St, Duluth, MN 55811.
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