Beatrice Marquez Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Beatrice “Bea” Marquez was born in East Los Angeles to Joe and Virgina Garcia. She grew up on a ranch with her sister and two brothers near the San Gabriel River. Her dad made his living buying produce at Grand Central Market and selling it in local neighborhoods with this produce truck. Her mother often rented her ranch to families for parties and would cater the events. Bea attended Portrero Heights Elementary, where she met Crespi Marquez and his family. She didn’t like him at first; he was rowdy and pulled her curls. They got married in 1948, the start of 59 years of marriage. They lived in Nana’s front house on 6th Street. When she became pregnant with her first son, they bought their first house for $11,500 on Twickenham Street in Los Angeles, where they lived for 25+ years and raised three children, Benjie, Jerry, and Cindy. Primarily a homemaker, she also ran a restaurant, Busy Bea’s Kitchen, for three years, and held other part-time jobs. They moved to El Monte. In 1977, the family experienced tragedy when Benjie passed away unexpectedly. A dream changed her outlook on life (see Bea’s testimony on the right) and she began to serve others in new ways. For many years, she served as a Third Order Carmelite. She cared for elderly people, and especially Lane Grave and Patty Patterson, who lived with Bea and Crespi in Fullerton. After Crespi suffered a stroke, Bea asked Teresa Del Real, her daughter-in-law and Benjie’s widow, to help care for them. Crespi passed in 2007. Terri continued to care for the family, and also cared for Bea, until she passed. Called “Nanie” by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she is remembered for her compassion, her love of sweets, fruit and flowers, how she cared for everyone, and so much more. Bea loved flowers, but she loved the Carmelite Sisters more. In lieu of flowers, you might consider a donation to St. Jude in Fullerton or the Carmelite Sisters' Sacred Heart Retreat House in Alhambra. Here is the link to St. Jude's Medical Center in Fullerton: https://donate.stjudemedicalcenter.org Retreat house: https://sacredheartretreathouse.com/giving/

Tributes

Beatrice Marquez

April 22, 1926 - June 13, 2019