1947 – 2013

GRAND ISLE, Vt. — Priscilla Coes Bean passed away early Friday, Feb. 8, at her home in Grand Isle, Vermont, with her husband by her side.

Patsy was born July 15, 1947, in Ware, Mass., to Loring Coes Jr. and Elizabeth (Carlton/Coes) Newhall. In her early years she lived in Brookfield, Mass. and attended the Bancroft School in Worcester, Mass. As a teenager, she split her time between Princeton, Mass. and North Waterford, where she graduated from Oxford Hills High School in 1965. She began working at the Advertiser Democrat newspaper in Norway, where her stepfather, Stanley Newhall, was editor.

On July 22, 1967, she married Robert A. Bean in South Paris, and they lived in the Orono and Portland areas for the next few years while Bob finished college. In 1971, Patsy and Bob moved to Vermont, eventually settling at their home in Grand Isle, where they have lived for the past 36 years.

Patsy had a long career in retail management as a clothing buyer and store manager for both The Alpine Shop and Climb High. After her first battle with cancer in 1998 she decided that life is too short and “retired” at the age of 50.

Patsy was passionate about many things. She loved puttering in the woodshop and supervising Bob around the power tools, where they designed numerous picture frames and Adirondack chairs, all made from her vision without a pattern. She was an accomplished artist and studied under Lajos Matolcsy while living in Maine. She created many treasured pieces of art over the years. She was a cherished “Nene” to her granddaughter, Taylor, and loved spending time with her, especially their shopping trips. Patsy took great pride in maintaining her property in Grand Isle and made sure something was always in bloom. She loved time on the water, sailing on Lake Champlain and her memorable charter trips with friends to the Virgin Islands. She was a member of the Alburg Golf Links, where she enjoyed many hours playing golf with her dear golf friends. In 2010 Patsy was Senior Ladies Champion and in 2011 she and Bob were Husband and Wife Champions. She had great memories of her trips with Bob to Scotland and Ireland, playing on some legendary courses.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 45 years, Bob Bean; her daughter, Sarah Rocheleau and husband, Dana; her granddaughter, Taylor, of Georgia, Vt.; her son, Rob Bean of Burlington; and her granddogs, Charlie and Rufus. She leaves her sister, Martha Thayer and her husband, Dr. John Thayer, of Rutland, Mass.; and her brother, Loring Coes III (Terry) and his wife, Dana, of Wakefield, R.I. Patsy is also survived by Bob’s sisters and their husbands, Brenda and Bob Richardson of Norway, Deborah and Ron Sherub of Dade City, Fla., and Barbara and Carl Bishop of Hebron. She also leaves several nieces and nephews.

Patsy was predeceased by her father and mother; along with her parents-in-law, Ashley R. and Virginia (Jewell) Bean.

Patsy’s family would like to thank Dr. Ades and his staff in the Oncology Department at FAHC; along with the nurses from the VNA for their caring dedication to Patsy during her illness.

Private messages of condolence to Patsy’s family are welcome at www.healdfuneralhome.com. “LYSYB”