Beatrice J. (Onthank) Melanson

Beatrice J. (Onthank) Melanson's life on earth ended when she breathed her last; and peacefully, gracefully and gratefully surrendered her soul to our Saviour, Jesus Christ in the early morning hours of April 14, 2014. Her fight with lung cancer lasted less than a month and before dying she made her family promise to spread the word about the evils of cigarette smoking.

Beatrice, or Bea to her family and friends, was the fifth child of Frank and Mary (Fox) Onthank. She grew up in Revere near the beach, living in three rooms on the second floor of the family home with her parents, siblings Mildred, Gerald, Madeline, and Norman so the first floor could be rented.

Her mother, Mary, was a 16-year-old orphan who arrived in Winthrop from County Mayo, Ireland; and her father, Frank, was also an orphan, born in Southborough, MA, who was left by his mother at the Home For Little Wanderers in Boston when he was about four years old. Fortunately for the family, Frank was able to find steady employment at the Charlestown Navy Yard and the Great Depression never really affected them.

Bea was a war-time bride. She married her sweetheart Clarence "Arthur" Melanson, who wore his uniform to the church on May 29, 1944. He left shortly after the wedding for combat in the European theatre, serving under General George Patton in the Third Army. Two years later, the war ended, Arthur came home and they started a family. Susan was born, then Eileen, then Laurie. Arthur landed a job selling rocketry to the government and the couple purchased their dream home in Tewksbury. Soon after that, Pauline was born, then Kathleen, who sadly was stillborn.

Hard times struck the family. Arthur was laid off and the family lost its car and house. Bea's daughter Laurie died of an overdose when she was 18 years old. Another daughter, Eileen, also died of an overdose when she was 44 years old. Arthur had a series of strokes which partially paralyzed him before he died in 2001. Her brothers and sisters, her beloved sister-in-law Marie and other close friends also died. Bea remained a rock, relying on her faith and the power of prayer for strength.

She spent hours on the telephone, praying and talking with friends and her sisters before they died. She attended Bible study and talked to everybody she could about Jesus, about how He loves and forgives and strengthens His followers.

Bea loved crocheting, crossword puzzles and watching the Red Sox. She loved having visitors to her apartment, for whom she would always have sandwiches and brownies. She loved being part of the Winsor School family in Boston, where she and Arthur worked and lived for almost 20 years. She loved her two surviving daughters, Susan Rivers and Pauline Minch; her sons-in-law, Bill Rivers and Jack Minch; her grandchildren, Colleen, Joey, Ricky, Brenda, Michelle, Joy, Katie and Killian; her great-grandchildren , Missy, Tarah, Shaundra, Jessica, Candace, Cassandra, Jordan, Elric, Gavin, Jordan and Wade; her great-great granddaughter Skylar; her nieces and nephews, Patricia, John, Maryann, Patrick, George, Jean and Vicki.