Born in Port Colborne, Ontario, Bea died on June 28, 2018, at the age of 87 in Guelph, Ontario, where she had lived with husband Norm since their marriage in 1950. Bea was predeceased by her siblings, who played a role in her early life and several of whom played a role in the lives of her children. Bea grew up in Collingwood, Ontario and attended St Mary’s Primary School and the Collingwood Collegiate where she was an excellent student. She loved Geography and excelled at Home Economics. She went on to work as one of the first Bell Telephone supervisor/operators in Collingwood, Ontario and then moved to work at the Guelph Exchange after her marriage. She retired from the Bell to raise her children. In the 1970s Bea went back to work as a mail sorter at the Guelph Post Office. Her love of Geography was fueled at both jobs. While at the Bell, she became proficient and knew every Canadian city’s long-distance routing and similarly, while at Canada Post, she could tell you the postal codes of most major Canadian cities and surrounding area. She was always pulling out an atlas to discover new and interesting places.
Bea, and Norm, raised four children; John, David, Steven (Elaine), and Carolyn (Chris) and she was a proud grandparent of Jonah, Galaxy, Kristy, Christopher, Paul, Michael and Jason and great-grandparent to Bodhi, Adelaide, Nico, Cohen and Rose. Although family was spread across the province, the country, and beyond, they were always close to her through a rotating gallery of pictures on her kitchen fridge.
Bea was a wonderful, caring friend to many in Guelph’s Collingwood Street neighbor-hood, in the St. Georges Anglican Church community, and in Guelph's Eastern Star/Masonic community. Bea (and Norm) made many trips, near and far, and enjoyed the company of many friends on these excursions. Very much a behind the scenes individual, Bea would get things done without the need of the limelight. Her warm heart, ability to listen, and other talents were available to all and she often was involved in charity work. She had a long and good life. Our lives are better because of her and she will always be loved, appreciated and greatly missed.
The family extends their gratitude and thanks to the 4th floor Nottingham nursing staff, the first responder paramedics, the doctors and nurses at the Guelph General Hospital and to all who have expressed their kind thoughts and condolences. Your efforts and support are greatly appreciated.
Friends may call at the GILCHRIST CHAPEL – McIntyre & Wilkie Funeral Home, One Delhi Street, Guelph on Tuesday, July 10th from 7 – 8 p.m. Funeral Service in the funeral home chapel on Wednesday, July 11th at 1:00 p.m. Reception following service. Interment Woodlawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bea’s name to: Montreal Shriners Hospital for Children, 1003 Decarie Boulevard, Montreal, QC H4A 0A9 or The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital, 115 Delhi Street, Guelph, ON N1E 4J5.