Olga G. Bean

She was born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico on August 8, 1920, the eldest daughter of Marcos and Celia Gonzalez. She was predeceased by her sisters Elba Gonzalez and Carmen Cuevas, and her brother Hernand Gonzalez.

Olga, as a child, passed through historic Ellis Island with her parents to live in New Jersey for a few years. Her name as well as her parents can be found on the archive rolls there.

She spent most of her growing up years in Puerto Rico living in many different parts of the island with her ever expanding loving family of 7 brothers and sisters. She related many wonderful adventures she had growing up in rural Puerto Rico to her grandchildren.

She graduated from Central High School in 1939 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This was the beginning of a long career working in Civil Service and the Veterans Administration. She met and married the love of her life John A. Bean. He was serving in the US Army in Puerto Rico. They were married on June 30, 1944 in San Juan. Thus she began a life of army mobility from Puerto Rico, to the Panama Canal, to Savanna Illinois, to Arlington Virginia, and to El Paso Texas. El Paso became their home for 45 years after John retired from the Army. Their home was always welcoming for family and friends to enjoy Olga’s delicious Puerto Rican cuisine and dancing, games and old fashion fun.

Olga and John were blessed with two sons, Joseph Bean (Faith) of Kailua Kona Hawaii, and Thomas Bean (Sharon) of Lakewood California, as well as six grandchildren: Kui, Jason, Jody, Josh, Maile, and Napualei. They also have 10 great grandchildren. Then in 2004, Olga and John moved to Lakewood California to be closer to their son, Tom, and his family. Olga is also survived by her sisters Norma Graterole of Cottageville South Carolina and Liana Gonzalez of Brownsville Texas, a brother Francisco Gonzalez of San Juan Puerto Rico, and numerous loving nieces and nephews.

Olga Mercedes Gonzalez Bean will be missed dearly by all of us who loved her twinkling eyes and lovely smile. Valla con Dios Mamasita y Abuelita.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, November 15, 2013 at 10:00AM at Luyben Family Dilday-Mottell Mortuary. Interment will be at the National Cemetery at Riverside, California with her loving husband of 67 years.