“Bess” Elizabeth Morland Bean

Probably the strongest, most true-to-herself person who ever lived. She will always be my hero!

It has been a privilege for me and my wife Marlene to know Bess for the past fifteen years. We have been amazed at her energy in helping others and her ability to produce “hundreds of dozens” of perfectly baked cookies for her church and her friends at Christmas time,all done in her kitchen stove oven. Many years ago during the dark days of World War 2 Bess supported the Canadian soldiers overseas by sending packages of goodies to them through her brother Norman who was fighting in Italy with The Royal Canadian Regiment. This great lady was full of courage and proved it by taking a hot air balloon ride over the city of London on her 80th birthday. Bess was one of a kind and they don’t make the likes of her anymore. She was independent, brave and generous. Bess made a difference to all who met her. She has earned her place in Heaven with the family members she loved.
Bob and Marlene Walsh

They broke the mold with Aunt Bess. I think that we, collectively, can only hope to gain as much out of life as she did. As impossible as it seems, she gave just as much, likely more, back.

Aunt Bess, I will deeply miss your wisdom, and especially the blunt manner in which it was imparted.

Genuine Leather….
I never met my mother-in-law and tat is unfortunate. But my wife took me to meet her Aunt Bess before we got married. I was to learn that Aunt Bess had a unique radar that could detect genuine people and that’s enough to make anyone nervous. But it was love at first site and her approval meant a lot to Elaine and to me. The love and respect that Elaine had for her Aunt Bess soon became the same love and respect I had for her. For Bess to drop everything and move-in with Elaine’s mom to comfort her and care for her in her dying months, says a lot for Bess’s compassion and unselfishness. This dedication and guiding light was a perfect role model for me… much better than the role models I had growing up. No matter how much I tried not to use the term “Genuine Leather” to describe Bess, I feel it describes her the best. She was genuine and unpretentious to the core. You never had to wonder what she was thinking. Her soft side showed that one can be assertive and forthright and still love those around her. She was the most resilient person I know and exercised more than prescribed just to get out of the hospital sooner than anyone else after hip surgery. That’s resilient. Genuine Leather is soft to the touch, resilient forever, classy and a sought after treasure. I can’t think of a better way to describe my Aunt Bess….

I have tried to write about this amazing woman many times since her passing, and failed. Maybe today I’ll succeed, as this was to be a special occasion. For months we’d planned to visit Bess on this day. It’s been a tradition, for the past several years, for Bud and me to make the trip from Windsor to London to visit her the week before Christmas. She knew we were coming, and was looking forward to it, as were we. Although, we saw her in September, it saddens me that we didn’t get to see and talk to her one last time.

Bess has been a part of my life since before I was born. Her husband and soul mate, Frank, was my father’s dearest and oldest friend. They’d known each other from boyhood. Frank and Bess were married several years before my parents even met. So thanks to Frank, Bess was a well loved and established part of my family’s life long before I arrived in this world.

As a kid, Bess made special birthday cakes for my parties, as she did for generations of other children. The one I liked the best looked like a carousel, with ribbons strung from animal crackers to the tops of striped peppermint sticks, covered by a cone shaped roof. My daughter Barbara’s favourite was the doll cake, Bess made her when she was 7 or 8. I often wondered how many little girls Bess delighted with this specialty of hers.

Oh, how I will miss this wonderful and amazing woman, with her no nonsense approach to life; so down-to-earth, oozing common sense and helpful sage advice. Bess told it like it was without mincing words, but never in a mean way. She was a pillar of strength, and always there when you needed her. Eleven years ago, within 19 days, I lost both my father and mother, who happened to live in the same apartment building as Bess. In a kind, gentle, unobtrusive way, she was there for me, not only when we were in London taking care of my parents affairs, but through letters and frequent phone calls to us here in Windsor. Her kind support made it easier to get through those difficult times. I don’t know what I’d have done without her.

Bess will be remembered for many thing, but I think her greatest asset was her ability to make friends. She took a genuine interest in everyone she met – be they young or old. She touched the lives of so many people in her 96+ years. And we’re all the better for it. Even in death, she thought of others, donating her body to science. Bess will truly be missed by multi-generations of people.

Our sincerest condolences go to Bess’s family, and to her many friends who also feel the loss of this great lady.

Roni & Bud
Windsor