Where Food, Drinks & Stories Are Shared
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Gabrielle Covell

April 17, 1990 - September 15, 2016
Portage, MI

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Visitation

Friday, September 23, 2016
5:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT
Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes
Kalamazoo Location
6080 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 375-2900
Driving Directions

Service

Saturday, September 24, 2016
11:00 AM EDT
Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes
Kalamazoo Location
6080 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 375-2900

A lunch following at the VFW Post #5855, 8845 Sprinkle Road, Portage MI 49002.

Driving Directions

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Midwestern Regional Medical Center
2520 Elisha Avenue
Zion, IL 60099
(800) 322-9183
Web Site

Children's Education Fund c/o Roxanne Husk
6080 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 375-2900

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Ambati
1830 S. Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
(269) 349-4961
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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Print

Vibrant, carefree, and funny are just a few of the words that come to mind when reflecting on the life of Gabrielle Covell. She wasn’t afraid to do things her own way, and she was forever experimenting with her ever-changing style. Gabi loved being a mom, and she took advantage of spoiling her kids on a regular basis. A woman of many gifts and talents, she lived life to the fullest and was always one to be busy, too. With an amazing ability to make those around her laugh, Gabrielle was the heartbeat of wherever she went. Although she was taken from her loved ones much too soon, she leaves behind a priceless collection of memories that her loved ones will forever hold near and dear to their hearts.

As the 1990s dawned in America, we were on the brink of a whole new world. The age of technology, the emergence of the worldwide web in 1992 transformed the way we shopped, the way we communicated, and the way we kept in touch with the world around us. It was just as the new decade was getting started that Roxanne McMiller and Vern Covell were eagerly anticipating the birth of their new baby as April dawned in Kalamazoo in 1990. Their wait was over when the baby girl they named Gabrielle was born on April 17th. She was the youngest of the kids in her family, and for this reason she was often called “the baby”.

Raised in the family home in Portage, Gabi was a young girl of her generation. She loved spending time with her family and friends, and she had a special place in her heart for animals as well. Gabrielle and her sister had secret fishing spots, and they often took hikes together as well. She also loved family vacations including their vacation to Florida and Mexico where she could spend plenty of time on the beach. She was a student at Portage Schools and played little league softball. Around school she was known for making everyone laugh. Of course she also had many friends. After graduating from Portage Central High School in 2008, Gabrielle went to Everest Institute to become a medical assistant. With her education behind her she worked as a medical assistant at Borgess Internal Medicine.

Throughout her life Gabrielle was a bustle of activity. She enjoyed being outdoors and went fishing on all local lakes and especially enjoyed fishing on Long Lake. Gabi was also into kayaking and camping, and she loved going up North. She knew her way around the kitchen and was a great cook who made an awesome spaghetti and enjoyed her dad’s famous chili and her Starbucks coffee. An avid shopper, Gabrielle had the most amazing personal style and mastered the art of different hair colors and playing around with her makeup and nails, too. She was a Detroit Tigers fan who also enjoyed watching NASCAR as well as The Walking Dead and Sons of Anarchy. Gabi liked country music and was so excited to meet one of her favorite artists, Dirks Bentley while at a concert with her dad. She was a fantastic singer who also taught herself to play the acoustic guitar. An avid reader, Gabi was rarely seen without a book in her hand. She looked forward to the holidays each year, and Halloween, Christmas and birthdays were always particularly festive.

As much as Gabrielle loved pursuing all of her interests, what made them even better was sharing them with her loved ones. She had the two most amazing kids, Nevaeh and Benjamin, and her greatest desire was to see them grow up. Gabrielle had such a special connection with each of her children, and she spoiled them whenever she could. She and her sister were very close, and Ashley was her full-time caregiver throughout her three year courageous battle with breast cancer. Gabi’s two kids and Ashley’s daughter were the best of friends and referred to as the Three Amigos. Instead of being called “Auntie,” Gabi was called "Tah Tee”.

All who knew Gabrielle Covell would agree that she was the most extraordinary person. She had a great sense of humor and always had a way of making a joke funnier, and her infectious cackle filled the room. Gabi could have some attitude, too, and it has even been said that she was a bit of a spitfire up to the end. Raised Catholic, she was a Christian who knew where she was going, and in everything she did she always spoke her mind. Life will never be the same without Gabrielle here, but her legacy will live on in the hearts and lives of all who were blessed to know and love her.

Gabrielle Covell-Cochran died on September 15, 2016, in Kalamazoo. Gabi’s family includes her 2 children: Nevaeh (age 5) and Benjamin (age 3); parents: Roxanne and Jay Husk and Vern and Regina Covell; 3 siblings: Ashley Covell, Casey (Amber) Covell and Bobie LeBlanc; 4 step-siblings: Tyler Mead, Caleb Mead, Tawny Mead-Covell and Kazi Brokus; nieces and nephews: Lyric, CJ, Colton and Caylie; grandmother, Joyce McMiller; cousin, Damien Cole; and her pets: Jaxon, Mr. Puff and Blackie; and was married to Brendon Cochran. Gabi was preceded in death by grandparents, Chuck McMiller and Amy Covell and by an uncle, Charlie McMiller. The family is grateful to Dr. Citrin and his team for the amazing care and compassion they showed Gabrielle over the past 2 years. Visit with family and friends on Friday from 5-8 p.m. at the Betzler Life Story Funeral Home, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900 where services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. Following the service, food and fellowship will be shared at the VFW Post 5855, 8845 Sprinkle Road; Portage. Please visit Gabi’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a favorite memory or photo and sign her guestbook before coming to the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Cancer Treatment Center of American or for her children’s education fund c/o Roxanne Husk.

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