Beatrice J. Wells

Beatrice J. “Bea” Wells, 89, a long-time resident of East Syracuse, peacefully entered eternal life on Saturday August 27, 2016 after a brief illness.

Born in Syracuse and the eldest of six children of the late Reo and Ruth (Springstube) Menninger, Bea was a 1945 graduate of Eastwood High School. She retired from the Armstrong Corporation in 1989 and was an avid reader, walker, and garage sale connoisseur. Her singular beauty, frankness and piquant sense of humor will be sorely missed by all those who knew and loved her. As a reminder of her unique wordview, the family offers this small bit of Beatrice's personal philsophy by which we hope you'll remember her and live your own lives: “It's a Goddamned beautiful day.”

It is, indeed—particularly with Bea's ethereal light now shining upon us.

Bea was predeceased by her stalwart husband of forty-two years, Claude Wells, in 2013. She is survived by a son Bruce (Joyce) Wells of Fresh Meadows (Queens), NY; two daughters, Jill (Kurt) Phaneuf of Oswego and Vicki (Lee) Wixson of Chittenango; two grandchildren, Ashley and Justin; two great-grandchildren, Alexis and Isaak, two sisters, Doris Gambacorto and Lucille Mickelson, and a brother, Burton Menninger.

Beatrice's family wishes to offer an enormous and heartfelt acknowledgment of gratitude to the staff of Morningstar Care Center for the love, respect, and earnest caregiving with which they provided Bea during her twilight years.

Though there are no funeral services or calling hours, friends and family members are encouraged to make a charitable donation to their local animal shelter or animal rescue organization on Bea's behalf.

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