The Eulogy

Andrea Bink

“Dear friends, family, and those who held Bea dear—thank you all so much for coming together today. My name is Andrea, and it is my special privilege and honor to celebrate the beautiful, long, and vibrant life of my mother, Bea. Mom lived a full  96 years, and I had the joy and good fortune of being her daughter many of those wonderful years. That's plenty of time to soak up her warmth and wisdom—my life's greatest blessing. 


In preparing for today, I found myself reflecting on what made my mom uniquely Bea, and the words that kept coming to mind were strong, fun, wise, and loving. Bea was an unstoppable force of nature who fully embraced every adventure life sent her way. And further, she always lived with joy, humor, and boundless warmth in the friendships she made, the love she shared, and the journeys she embarked upon.



My mother’s life was one filled with purpose. When I look back, I am in awe of all she accomplished. I could speak at length about her many achievements, her travels, the detailed attention she gave her health and personal growth, and the deep and lasting bonds she created. Yet perhaps her greatest accomplishment—one that outshines even her most impressive achievements—was the profound impact she made on the lives of those around her. Everywhere Bea went, every heart she touched, every laugh she sparked, love grew.



Mom was special in her wonderful combination of contrasts—strong yet gentle, firm yet flexible. She had boundaries, and she did not hesitate to let you know where she stood on a topic. But those same strong boundaries coexisted with an enormous capacity for connection. Bea effortlessly won over hearts wherever she went—on a simple train ride, at the gym, or in conversation with a doctor during an appointment. Her circle was vast because she never hesitated to reach out and build connections. She forged deep relationships with people of all ages—friends young enough to be her grandchildren and elders with whom she shared decades of priceless memories. Her authenticity, humor, and open heart drew countless people into her orbit and made her unforgettable.



What I'll miss most are those precious moments together—the simplicity of just sitting on her bed after dinner, talking about anything and everything, sometimes sharing old forgotten memories or envisioning exciting adventures ahead. Our travels together were always lively because Mom never lost the sparkle of curiosity and wonder. Anyone who journeyed with Bea knew an adventure was never far away. And no matter what, wherever we were, fun was never in short supply.



Yesterday, I was in the pharmacy with a friend and came across a stand of Mother's Day cards. I realized—painfully—that I wouldn't be buying one this year. One card, though, stood out vividly. It said simply, "Love grows wherever you are." And it occurred to me then, more powerfully than ever before, that this message perfectly captures my mother's legacy. Bea was love—love in action, love in teaching, love in relationships. Her kindness, sincerity, and compassion radiated outward and transformed the lives of everyone lucky enough to cross her path.



My mother's deep Christian faith was central to who she was. She lived her life committed to love and devoted to God; a compassion evident in her daily routine of carefully praying through two full pages of names. Likely, most everyone here has been on Bea's prayer list. In true Bea fashion, her prayers were generous, personal, genuine, and always uplifting.



And so, as we bid farewell to Bea today, I offer you these beautiful words adapted from scripture, which I know would warm my mom’s heart:



"Love is patient, love is kind.


It does not envy,

it does not boast.


Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.


Love never fails."



Mom, your love will never fail—because it lives on in each of us. I am deeply grateful we shared this life's adventure—you truly made love grow wherever you were.

Thank you allso much for being here today to honor and remember Bea, my incredible mom.”