Gretajean DeRubeis

DULUTH, Minn. — Gretajean DeRubeis, 82, of Palm Desert, Calif., and Barnes, Wis. (formerly of Duluth), passed away on Saturday, Nov. 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, Mich. She graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood, Mich., in 1954 and moved on to Northern Michigan University, in Marquette, Mich., where she earned her undergraduate degree in elementary education. Shortly after graduation, she married her beloved husband, Bernard J. DeRubeis, of Hurley, Wis.

Gretajean taught elementary schools in Wakefield, Mich., Minneapolis, 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, and Lucia DeRubeis, of Issaquah, Wash .; brothers-in-law, James (Ann) DeRubeis, of Bellevue, Wash., Eugene (Paula) DeRubeis, of Janesville, Wis., and Peter (Carole) DeRubeis, of Anoka; nephews, Clark Matthew (Jodi) Torma of Ironwood, Anthony DeRubeis, of Bellevue, Wis., Vincent (Kathleen) DeRubeis, of Seattle, Wash., Daniel (Jamie) DeRubeis, of Middleton, Wis., Michael (Michelle) DeRubeis, of Janesville, Wis., and Charles (Erin) DeRubeis, of Mounds View; nieces, Heidi Marie Tomich, of Henderson, Nev., Catharine DeRubeis, of Madison, Wis., and Andrea DeRubeis, of Stevens Point, Wis .; great-nieces, Kayla (Chad) Lichtenberg, of West Bend, Wis., Ali Jo DeRubeis, Ellary (Nate) Scharenbrock, of Green Bay, Wis., 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. Share online condolences and photos at SunriseFuneralHomeandCemetery.com.