Obituary of Beatrice Cross

Beatrice Hannah Cross Of Voglers Cove Bea was born on Block Island, RI on January 30, 1922 and passed away on July 20, 2005 in the South Shore Regional Hospital, Bridgewater. She adored her parents, Roswell and Azalea (Sprague) Mitchell. She met her husband, Gerald Cross, on Block Island, and in 1948, Bea and Gerald packed up their five children and returned to his home area in Nova Scotia. The baby of the family was born her in Liverpool. Bea was never idle for long; always doing crafts and sharing her interests with any offspring who would sit and do ceramics with her, or who wanted to bake cookies. She always felt loneliness after Gerald died (1989), and reminded us of “what Gerald would say” when we did something that required their one minute philosophy. When her eyesight failed and she couldn’t see enough to drive properly, she immediately stopped driving and moved to an apartment, where she found great neighbors without having to go out in the cold. Her time was so long as she couldn’t concentrate to knit, and fell asleep to talking books. Her six children, all girls, from youngest, are: “I planted cosmos for you today, Mom” – Noreen (Ronnie) Dagley, Italy Cross; “I’m so proud and thankful that you are my Mom.”- Shirley (Roy) Dagley, Voglers Cove; “Every time my hydrangea blooms, my thoughts will turn to you” – Rita (Gary) Veinot, Cookville; “I’ll always miss your thick sugar cookies” - Margaret (Bert) Miller, Honesdale, PA; “I’ll think of you every time I sit in a rocking chair” - Audrey ( the late Frank) Peterson, Vernon, BC; “You taught me how to sew. You were good at that” - Geraldine (Romeo) Ruest, Clarence Creek ON. She could be herself most with her grandchildren (23 of them) and here great grandchildren (32 + one on the way) and they looked for Nannie and a hug as soon as they came in the house. She is survived by a sister-in-law, Mrs. Dora (Cross) Hatt, Liverpool. We her family enjoy stories from people Bea worked with when she taught school in various communities; when she worked at the Mill Village Telephone Exchange; when she worked at Lane’s and when she worked with Statistics Canada. In her spare time, she sold Avon and made lasting friendships. She was a caring person and a loyal employee, with a quick-witted sense of humor, and could tell jokes that we, her children, would not think of telling her. She is remembered fondly by her fellow volunteers at the hospital gift shop. She took her duties seriously as an elder of Wesley United Church, East Port Medway and is a member of their UCW. She is a member of the Retired Teachers’ Association. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, her brothers William, Francis, George, Wilbur; a sister Elizabeth; a twin sister at birth; a grandson Craig Chandler; and a great-grandson, Kyle Chandler. Visitation will be Friday 2-4 and 7-9 pm, in Sweeny’s Funeral Home, Bridgewater. Funeral service will be held 11 am Saturday in Wesley United Church, East Port Medway, with Rev. Gerald Kerr officiating. Internment will follow in the East Port Medway Cemetery. Donations may be made, in memoriam, to Wesley United Church, East Port Medway; South Shore Regional Hospital Foundation; or to the CNIB, Nova Scotia Branch, P.O. Box 8624, Stn A, Halifax NS, B3K 9Z9. Online condolences may be made at www.sweenysfuneralhome.com. of Beatrice, make some time to spend with those who need you. Her “baby blue” eyes lit up when friends visited.