Beatrice Fay Drucker, 105, passed away October 26, 2020. Known as Bea or Beady, she never lost her sense of humor or desire to be informed even as her health declined. She spent most of her time reading newspapers, magazines, and books, and watching TV. COVID-19 eventually took her life.
Beady was born on February 25, 1915 in New York, New York to Julius and Rose Kantor. She and her siblings Ruth and Alvin (Bob) spent part of their childhood in New York and Florida before settling in Chicago.
In 1941, Bea met and married her beloved husband Sam. They left Chicago in 1942 when Sam was drafted. During Sam’s military service she worked as a dental assistant at the military bases. They lived in several locations with the longest deployment in Sioux City, Iowa before he was discharged in 1946 and began a business in Atchison, Kansas. In 1952 he sold that business and they moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota with the help of contacts from Sioux City. In addition to raising her two children in Sioux Falls, Beady served as President of the PTA City Council, SD Chair of the March of Dimes, and as a Brownie/Cub Scout leader. She was instrumental in setting up the first polio clinics in the state. In mid-life Beady reentered the workforce when she became the Director of Patient Relations at Sioux Valley Hospital. She was a pioneer in the field of patient relations and remained working for the hospital until her retirement.
After retiring, the Druckers moved to Sun City West, Arizona in 1981. It was after that move when she discovered her artistic side and began painting. Every wall in the Drucker’s house was filled with her paintings all signed simply as Beady. People loved her work and she had several exhibitions. Until her last days, Beady loved coloring in coloring books.
During her active retirement years, Bea served as a Docent of the West Valley Art Museum, President of the Sun City Art Club, and President of the Beth Shalom Sisterhood. She and Sam also traveled to Europe, Asia, Africa, the Panama Canal, Alaska, and many national parks.
Bea and Sam celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2001 before Sam passed away in 2002.
Lobster was Beady’s favorite food and every year for her birthday, her children treated her to a lobster dinner.
Bea is survived by her son Richard Drucker and his wife April of Wisconsin, daughter Ellie Sherman and her husband Mike of Florida, and one granddaughter, Tiffani Sherman.
Beady will be buried next to her husband in the Garden of Prayer at Sunland in Sun City, Arizona.
In lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations may be made in Beady's name to the West Valley Art Museum, P.O. Box 6377 Peoria, AZ 85385.
To send condolences to the family, please visit www.SunlandMemorial.com.
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