1926 – 2014

LEWISTON — Virginia May Beck, 87, of 4 Teakwood Knoll, Lewiston, passed away at her home on Sunday, May 18, with her family by her side.

Born in Lewiston on Aug. 3, 1926, she was a daughter of Alexander and Gladys Carville Kittila. Educated in local schools, she graduated from Lewiston High School, Class of 1944, and attended St. Mary’s School of Nursing, graduating in 1948.

Virginia married Holman G. Beck in 1948, and spent many years as a homemaker, raising seven children on Bailey and Bellegarde avenues, where friends and family were always welcome — no invitation needed. Mr. Beck passed away in 1978.

After her children were grown, she worked for many years as a maternity nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital and taught natural child birth classes, retiring in 1988.

Virginia loved to sew, knit and enjoyed making wedding and shower cakes for family and friends. She also enjoyed traveling, cribbage, playing cards, solving puzzles, family parties, playing backgammon with her daughters and was an avid Red Sox fan. A longtime member of United Calvary Methodist Church, over the years she taught Sunday school, volunteered to play piano, helped with suppers and helped make new gowns for the choir one Christmas.

Survivors include three sons, Holman Beck Jr. of Oviedo, Fla., William Beck of Chestnut Hill, Mass., and Timothy Beck and wife, Marcy, of Arlington, Mass.; three daughters, Hilja “Tootie” Goudreau and husband, Thomas, of Wales, Barbara Marcotte and husband, Norman, of Lewiston and Doreen Beck-Poland and partner, Sherry, of Lewiston; a son-in-law, Michael Clements; a sister, Charlotte Landry and husband, Richard, of Lakeland, Fla.; 14 grandchildren, Jami Godin, Lisa and Justin Goudreau, Erin Gingras, Mike Clements, Stephen and Peter Marcotte, Jeanna Breton, Alexander and Adam Beck, Jacob and Joseph Beck-Poland and Timothy and Daniel Beck; and seven great-grandchildren, Haylee Bigelow, Kaia Goudreau, Lucy Gingras, Rylan Clements, Gwyneth and Charles Marcotte and Alexander R. Beck. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents and husband, she was predeceased by a daughter, Patricia Clements; and a sister, Hazel Kittila.

The family would like to thank Dr. Richard Kappelmann and his staff, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center Wound Center, the staff at Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice and Becky Dacus, certified advanced rolfer, for giving her quality care and respect during her final illness.

Donations, condolences and a video tribute may be accessed online at www.albert-burpee.com.