Alberta Kessel

Alberta "Bea" (Pasvant) Kessel passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, March 19, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. Bea lived a full life, centered around family, friends, and fun. A quick-witted fashionista and life of the party, Bea was always dressed to the nines. Often mistaken for Elizabeth Taylor, Bea was a classic beauty, but could also hold her own in heated debates and beat any man at a game of poker. Alongside her husband, Joseph, she was very active in St. John Greek Orthodox church. She served as former President of the Ladies Philoptochos Society and Daughters of Penelope, and loved bringing people together. When she wasn’t cooking up a delicious Greek meal or snuggling with her toy maltese “Feta,” you could find Bea watching soaps, shopping for the latest accessories, or playing the slots as "Double Diamond Yiayia". Bea is survived by her daughters, Regina (Kessel) Pialtos, predeceased by her husband Dr. James Pialtos, and Eugenie “Genie” Kessel-Lialios and her husband Dimitrios “Jim” Lialios. Grandchildren — Dimitri Josef “DJ” Lialios, Alia Pialtos, Ariana Tornatore and her husband Robert, and Arista Katsourakis and her husband Panormitis "Pano". Her beloved great grandchildren, Theo and Eva Tornatore, will remember her as "Big Yiayia". Alberta will be missed greatly by all who knew her, but most of all by her four grandchildren. They will always remember their Yiayia for keeping them laughing and on their toes. She will always have a particularly special bond with her only grandson, DJ, who lived and cared for her selflessly alongside his parents, Genie & Jim, until her final days. Friends and family are welcome to attend visitation hours on Tuesday, March 21st from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at St. John Greek Orthodox Church, 11455 Metro Parkway, Sterling Heights, MI 48312. The funeral service will begin at 11:00 AM at the church, with a private burial for the immediate family the following day. In lieu of flowers, please remember Bea with a contribution to St. John Greek Orthodox Church at https://www.stjohngoc.net/donate. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Michael Wasik of Wasik Funeral Home, Shelby Township, MI.

Alberta Kessel

September 5, 1933 - March 19, 2023