Bea passed away on Wednesday January 21 at the age of 100.  She was born on October 27, 1925 to Catherine (Reilly, Conway) McKennon & Patrick Conway & raised in Holyoke.  She attended Sacred Heart Grammar & High School & graduated in 1944.  Bea went on to Providence Hospital School of Nursing & graduated in 1947 & was a member of the Providence Hospital Alumni Association. She had a 40-year nursing career; working in the Emergency Room & OR/Recovery for 15 years.  She trained many student nurses who came through their ER & OR rotation.  She was greatly admired & respected for her nursing assessment skills.  She also worked for Dr James Allen for 10 years, & the Springfield VNA until she retired in 1986. 

Bea was predeceased by her husband John M. Harris Sr. & her 2nd husband Roland Rose. She was also predeceased by her two siblings.  Her best friend, her sister Marcella Lucey & her brother John Conway & her daughter Sharon Mayville. She had four children, Sharon Mayville (Armand), deceased, of Florida, Kathryn Dulchinos (George) of Chicopee, John Harris Jr (Gaye) of Wilbraham & Colleen Harris of Northampton.  She was the best mother you could have asked for & made countless sacrifices for us.  Bea had eight grandchildren: Nicholle Harrison & Dean Proulx of Holyoke, Katy Harris of Chicopee, Brian Harris (Tammy) of Springfield, Michelle Cunningham of Georgia, Monique Bolza {Mike} & Armand Mayville (Christa), both of Florida, and Nadine Harris (Ari) & several great & great- great grandchildren. 

Bea retired to Florida in 1987 & lived in Holly Hills, Daytona Beach & Ormand Beach at Bear Creek.  She lived a very active life walking every day, golfing, dancing, bowling & was a bit of a social butterfly. Never refused an invitation to a party or social event.  She was known to be the first one to call when someone needed medical advice or some TLC.  She belonged to a tap dance troupe & performed in shows in the Club House & other area retirement communities, she was a member of a of the Bear Creek Aquabellies, a synchronized swim troupe & performed in the pool there with seven other women.  She was quite a gal. We’ll miss you, Mom, until we meet again.  She will be watching over all of us now. 

The family would like to thank the staff at CareOne Northampton for the excellent care she received there.  First on the rehab 3rd floor & then as a long-term care resident on the 2nd floor Federal wing.  & as she approached the end of her life, the support they gave us was so appreciated.  She was incredibly happy there.  We would also like to thank Ascend Health Hospice for the end of life care she received.  They were excellent & made sure she got everything she needed to make her transition a comfortable one.

The funeral will be held Friday at 10:30 a.m. from the Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home, 2049 Northampton Street, Holyoke, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00am in Blessed Sacrament Church, 1945 Northampton Street, Holyoke. Burial will be held in Calvary Cemetery. Calling hours are Friday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 in the funeral home.