Beatrice 'Bix' Stewart
Beatrice Stewart
Beatrice E. Stewart, 83, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Thursday evening, November 27, 2014, at the Mayo Clinic - St. Marys Hospital in Rochester after a brief illness.
The funeral mass was held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 1, at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Rochester. Macken Funeral Home, Rochester, was entrusted with funeral arrangements.
Beatrice (Bix) was born August 11, 1931, to Bernard and Veronica Engelen in Springfield, Brown County, Minnesota. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the College of St. Teresa, Winona, and received her training at St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester, where she met the love of her life Harold (Stu) Stewart. Bix and Stu were united in marriage on December 26, 1953, at St. Raphael Church in Springfield. They became parents to five daughters, Rochelle (Frank) Kozera of Rochester, Suzanne (John) Owens of Fairfax, Virginia, Nanette (Ignacio) Escobedo of Rochester, Jeanne (Ian) Bald of Placerville, Colorado, and Renee (David) Stewart-Hester of Chanhassen.
During their life together, they lived in many parts of the country, including Washington D.C., Clinton, Iowa, Cooperstown and Cortland, New York and finally settled in Rochester in 1962.
Bix's primary focus was raising her children, but she also performed hospital and private duty nursing in the early years of her marriage. She was a Child Growth and Development instructor for the St. Mary’s School of Nursing Program. Later in life, she found a passion in volunteering and working at the Rochester Public Library, eventually serving as the Chairwoman on the Board of Directors. One her proud accomplishments was hosting a local televised children's reading program titled "Bibbidi Bobbidi Book," promoting children's literacy.
She was a committed volunteer for various groups including; St. Francis of Assisi School (library) and the Environment Ministry for the church. Bix was a member of the Lake Hubert Ladies Association.
Bix had a love of shopping with her daughters and grandchildren, growing and arranging flowers, painting, antiquing, swimming, participating in bridge groups, talking with family and friends, and especially spending summers at her beloved Lake Hubert (Nisswa, Minnesota) summer home.
She will be remembered for her humor, her devotion to family and her Catholic faith.
She is survived by Stu, her husband of 61 years; her five daughters; and 11 grandchildren, Megan (Jon) Cooper, Devon (Joshua) Yocom, Thomas (Araina) Owens, Katie (fiancee Eric) Owens, Stephanie and Andrew Escobedo, Sylvan Bald, Patrick, Teddy, Spencer, Melanie Stewart-Hester; and three great-grandchildren, Madison, Peyton and Wesley. She was preceded in death by her four siblings, brothers, Ted and B.J., and sisters, Marcie and Collette.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to St. Francis of Assisi School or the Rochester Public Library.