Rita Bean

Rita Delores Bean, 89, of St. Johnsbury, VT passed away on Monday, May 6, 2019, at Canterbury Inn with her family by her side.

Rita was born in St. Johnsbury on February 21, 1930, one of 10 children to Emile and Ida (Guilbault) Lacroix.  She was raised in St. Johnsbury and graduated from Mount Saint Anthony Catholic School for Girls with the Class of 1949. She worked at Bricket’s Diner waitressing but her primary occupation was raising her four children.  In December of 1976, Rita married Edsel Bean and the couple shared 42 years together.

Rita loved her family and her home.  After the death of her first husband, Rita raised four young children with the help of her mother who lived with the family.  She kept a spotless house and held her children to high standards.  There were rules to follow and consequences when those rules were broken.  Her children are very proud of her work, her strength, and her life.  Rita was very proud of her children, sometimes embarrassingly so, making sure everyone knew their accomplishments and good character.  Rita liked her flowers and working on flowers.  She had a beloved old clock that played Amazing Grace on the hour and waited to hear the music before she passed.

Survivors include her loving husband: Edsel Bean of St. Johnsbury; her four children: Mike Bugbee and wife, Joanne, of St. Johnsbury, Judith Harbaugh, of St. Johnsbury, and Christine Demars and husband, David, also of St. Johnsbury and Fred Bugbee and wife, Paula, of Newport, VT; four step-sons: Steven Bean and wife, Diane, of Miles Pond, VT, Donald Bean and wife, Sharon, Dennis Bean and wife, Theresa, and Jeff Bean and wife, Roxanne, all of St. Johnsbury; 15 grandchildren: Travis, Dereck, and Ethan, Russell and Brian, Michael and David, Stephanie and Katie, Michael, Peter, and Tracy; Tim; and Jeff and Jason; many, many great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews including her special niece: Kim.

Rita was predeceased by her first husband in 1961: Derwood Bugbee; and all of her siblings: Beatrice, Yvette, Robert, Paul, Omer, Leo, Frank, Doria, and Richard; and son-in-law: Russell Harbaugh.

A funeral service officiated by Fr. Karl Hahr will be held on Thursday, May 9, 2019, 12PM, at Sayles Funeral Home, 525 Summer Street in St. Johnsbury, VT.  Burial will immediately follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery on St. John Street in St. Johnsbury.

Donations may be made in Rita’s name to one of three agencies: St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 or online at www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html ; Canterbury Inn Activities Program, 46 Cherry Street, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819; Caledonia Home Health and Hospice, 161 Sherman Drive, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819.

Memories and condolences can be shared with the family online at www.saylesfh.com.