A visitation will be held on Monday, July 1, at 10 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Sabina Catholic Church, and then burial at Belton Cemetery.
Penny was born in 1946, and her parents celebrated their blessing by naming her after the then-popular song, “Pennies from Heaven.” An alumna of Ruskin High School, she graduated from Central Missouri State College (now the University of Central Missouri) with a degree in education. On June 6, 1976, she was joined in marriage with her late husband, Dennis Hoza Beebe, and they rejoiced in welcoming two children.
Penny touched the lives of so many in her community during her thirty years of teaching in the Belton School District, primarily as a third-grade teacher at Cambridge Elementary. After her retirement from teaching in 1999, her generosity, her kindness, her humor, and especially her love of books continued to enrich the lives around her through her many years as a librarian at Mid-Continent Public Library in Grandview. Her boisterous children’s storytimes were a particular favorite of the youngest patrons. She was a talented knitter and stitcher who showed her love to those around her through her beautiful creations, and she cherished the many precious and important friendships she made through that interest. Known affectionately as “Baba” to her two grandchildren, her generous friendship was felt by many, and she was deeply loved.
Penny was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband of twenty years, Dennis Hoza Beebe; and her granddaughter Rosa Eleanor. She is survived by her two daughters and their families: daughter Kathryne Beebe, her husband, Joshua Hatton, and their children José and Helene Hatton Beebe; daughter Anne Beebe-Heinrichs and her husband Matthew Beebe-Heinrichs; and lastly, by her well-loved kitties, Fenn and Fiona.
The family would like to thank the staff of Carnegie Village Rehabilitation Center, the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center in Belton, and Ascend Health Hospice for their extraordinary kindness and care of Penny in her final days.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the four charities that she regularly supported: Harvesters Community Food Network (harvesters.org); City Union Mission (give.cityunionmission.org); Little Sisters of the Poor (littlesistersofthepoorkansascity.com), and Wayside Waifs (waysidewaifs.org).
Livestream of the funeral mass will be available at: https://www.facebook.com/StSabinaParish
