Georgianne Covelli

Generous, kind, and compassionate, Georgianne Covelli lived a life rich in family and friends. Quite analytical, Georgianne was also bubbly, optimistic, and enthusiastic. She loved engaging with people and naturally connected with everyone she met. She listened with compassion and care and always gave her very best. Quick to buy for others before herself, Georgianne loved exploring the world with her loved ones and was known to be a prankster who enjoyed magic tricks. Everything was better when shared with Georgianne, for in her good company, there was no hardship that couldn’t be lessened, and her joy amplified every happiness. A devoted daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and friend, Georgianne will long be remembered and so dearly missed.

1963 was a year of many changes. As the Civil Rights movement gathered momentum, the nation continued to invest in its goal of putting a man on the moon. American homes were filled with the sounds of the Beatles and the sense of loyalty inspired by its favorite dog, Lassie. Nowhere was there more hope for the future than in the home of Peter and Dawn (Poole) Kay as they welcomed their daughter Georgianne on May 5, 1963, in Evanston, Illinois.

The youngest of three, Georgianne grew up in the good company of her older brothers, Stephen and Brian. When she was young, her family moved to Arlington Heights, where she spent her youth. A good kid, Georgianne was very outgoing and had a lot of friends. She enjoyed an active social life and was a natural athlete. She enjoyed gymnastics, cheerleading, and track and field, but her first love was swimming and diving. She was a state swim qualifier; like her brothers, she also coached and lifeguarded at the local parks in the summer. She was an honor roll student and did some babysitting from time to time. The family enjoyed tent camping and took a memorable five-week trip to California. Eventually, they graduated to trailers.

After graduating from Rolling Meadows High School, Georgianne continued her education at Eastern Illinois University, where she enjoyed many good friendships and earned degrees in mathematics and computational mathematics. With her degree in hand, Georgianne returned home and soon found a job at Allstate Insurance, where she worked for nearly 40 years. As the company changed over the years of her career, Georgianne’s job also changed. She was always willing to learn and grow and was best described as a systems analyst.

Georgianne and her longtime family friend, Tom Stahnke, took an interest in one another and began dating. In time, they married and settled into life together. Blessed with three children, sons Aaron and Connor and daughter Carly, Georgianne was thrilled to be a mom. She was supportive and always present, never missing a special event and driving the carpool for the kids. Never one to hover over her kids, instead, she let them learn from their mistakes committed. When the marriage ended, Georgianne she bought a house near Tom to make it easier for the children to stay connected.

With endless energy, Georgianne was always busy doing something. She knew how to squeeze the most in her time. Despite being busy, she gave each person their time and the sense that they were important. She never left a job unfinished and managed her time wisely. She was a good cook but really didn’t like it, and she was handy around the home. From taking immaculate care of her lawn to fixing flooring and working in landscaping, she was not afraid to get her hands dirty and learned from her dad. She was always close with her mom as well. They always lived within a couple of miles of one another.

Georgianne continued to enjoy an active social life. She had a lot of friends from work and played on a softball team with many of them. She and her kids did a lot of camping, from tents to trailers. They explored many states and national parks and took a more extended trip out west. Many memorable trips were enjoyed at Eagle River and Devils Lake in Wisconsin. Many of their epic trips were with her mom, brother, or other family members. She taught the kids to make great campfires and encouraged their outdoor adventures. In addition to camping, the family enjoyed trips to Disney and Outer Banks, North Carolina.

About ten years ago, Georgianne met Kelly Covelli. They began talking and then dating. Over the next four years, they realized that they clicked and decided to marry on June 25, 2016, in Kentucky, near Kelly’s family. The couple loved spending time together. They had similar interests, and Georgianne was always up for anything. Whether going for day hikes and walks, taking a weekend trip, attending a concert, traveling to China and Italy, or simply sharing time at home, they enjoyed every moment.

In 2019, Georgianne’s job required her and Kelly to move to Charlotte, North Carolina. It was hard being away from her children and mother, and became even more difficult within months when the pandemic forced her to work from home. Once the company allowed their employees to work from home permanently, Georgianne and Kelly began discussing where they wanted to live. They decided to move to Grand Rapids, Michigan, near her daughter. The move also made it possible for Georgianne and Kelly to welcome Georgianne’s mother to their home. Soon, she was delighted to become a proud grandmother when her grandson Colson was born. Her heart’s delight, Georgianne relished in the blessing of seeing Colson every week and was so very proud of her growing family.

On Saturday morning, October 21, she and Kelly headed out in the car to visit his family in Kentucky. Tragically, within an hour of being on the road, they collided with a deer, suffering a catastrophic crash. Georgianne passed away on Monday in the hospital in Grand Rapids from injuries she suffered in the crash.

Though our days with Georgianne were far too few, we find much comfort in our many treasured memories of the beautiful woman we were so lucky to know. We also find comfort in carrying her passion for life forward. In each moment we confidently face life’s challenges, greet a stranger with a warm smile, curiously explore the world around us, cuddle up with our favorite canine, and gather with those we love, we celebrate the countless ways Georgianne made the world a better place. In this way, we keep her bright spirit alive and inspiring others as she so inspired us.

Georgianne Covelli, age 60, of Grand Rapids and formerly of Hoffman Estates, IL, passed away on October 22, 2023, following a car accident. She is survived by her husband, Kelly; children Aaron (Angela Dirkes) Stahnke, Connor Stahnke, Carly (Daniel) Michaels; grandson, Colson Michaels; her mother, Dawn Heinz; step-children Dominic and Gianna Covelli; Kelly’s parents Joseph Covelli, Ima Joyce (Bobby) Boisseau; brothers Stephen (Janet) Kay, Brian (Bonnie) Kay; as well as nieces and nephews; and her beloved dogs, Ruby and Zeke. Georgianne was preceded in death by her father, Peter Kay, and her step-father, Allan Heinz.

Friends are invited to visit with her family at a memorial gathering on Monday, October 30, 2023, from 4-7 PM at Donnellan Family Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Blvd in Skokie, IL.

For those who wish, memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association are appreciated. To read more about Georgianne, to share a memory or photo, or to sign her guestbook, visit www.heritagelifestory.com.