Xavionna J. Besaw

Xavionna J Besaw passed away on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at 22 years old. Xavi was born on August 7, 2000, in Sturgeon Bay, WI to Brenda Besaw. Born with a complex congenital heart disease, Xavi spent the next two decades defying expectations, always armed with a morbid sense of humor about her situation. In her short journey, she withstood five open heart surgeries and a pacemaker surgery.

In 2016, Xavi was the recipient of a Make a Wish Foundation trip. A lover of true crime, she decided to visit the set of Criminal Minds, where she dined with the cast and spent time with her long-time crush, Matthew Gubler.

In 2018, Xavi graduated from Ashwaubenon High School. She spent her adult live advocating for women’s rights, for survivors of childhood abuse, and using her resources to help others.

Xavi is survived by her immediate family: mother and step-father Brenda Besaw & Michael Parisi, brother Zandrell Besaw, soul sister and closest friend Gretchen DeShazer, nieces Zandrea and Lilah, nephew Zayvien, and beloved cat Salem; special family: Aunt Rose, Uncle John, and Calvin Mortensen; extended maternal family: Uncle Rod (Beverly) Sommers, Aunt Jean (Al) Timm, and cousins and second cousins Michelle (Neil & Henry) Oelklaus, Nick (Sarajane, Freddie, WallE, and Fozzy) Mortensen, Evie (John, Cordelia, and Veronica) Saharsky, Becky Stephani, Cheri Klussendorf, Eric Timm, Raquel and R.J. Jousma, Levi Schultz, Gillian and Electa Sommers. She is further survived by her extended paternal family in Louisiana.

She was preceded in death by her father, her uncles Russell Besaw and Robert DeShazer, maternal grandmother Audrey Besaw, and maternal grandfather John Besaw.

We give our heartfelt gratitude to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin – to every doctor, nurse, support staff, and valet. We also thank Dr. Sabeena Kathuria, Xavi’s pediatrician. Not one moment of Xavi’s life would have been possible without any of you. Thank you for giving us the time we had.

We will be having a memorial service on Friday, February 3, 2023, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Malcore (West) Funeral Home, 1530 West Mason St, Green Bay with sharing of memories beginning at 2:00 pm. .