Leona Bernice Bean, born June 20, 1925 passed peacefully in her sleep on April 22, 2021. She was 95 years young. She was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and a friend. She was a walking piece of history.
She was born in St. Louis, Missouri to Michael and Helen (Szymanski) Florkowski. She wed three times; Fred Markowitz 1946 (annulled), Ray Mauer 1946-1949 (divorced), Virgil Bean 1950-2003 (widow).
She worked in a bullet factory during World War II before becoming a PBX Operator with American Bell and then with Denver General for over 18 years. She received the Mayor's Award of Honor from Mayor Webb in commemoration of her retirement.
Leona always had a warm smile and a friendly word for everyone. She loved storytelling, the Broncos, the Rockies and the Cardinals. She was a devout Catholic, which helped on game days.
She loved to cook and was always busy in the kitchen. Her beloved dishes are too many to list but at the top are Easter and Christmas hams with a brown sugar glaze, pineapple rings and maraschino cherries, cucumber and vinegar salad sliced paper-thin, and the wedding cakes she baked for friends and family. She was famous for shipping mountains of rum cakes across the country made with a little bit of love and a whole lotta rum.
She lived in St. Louis Missouri from 1925-1963 when she moved to Denver, Colorado.
Survived by her children; Michael Bean (Maggie), Cynthia Bean, Rebecca Hayes (Cary), Raymond Mauer Jr, Helen Brown (Joseph), her grandchildren; Angela Nevarez-Schlansker (Richard), Diana Lujano (Baudelio), Sarah Quint (Dov), Elizabeth Elsbach, Gregory Henderson (Courtney), Carrie Mauer, Derek Maure, Dion Mauer, Dominic Mauer, Angela Brown, Joseph Brown, her great grandchildren; Bowe, Meyer, Jeremiah, Elijah, Leo and Booker.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Michael (1985) and Helen Florkowski (1970), her siblings; Lorraine Paul (2005), Melvin Florkowski (1985), Michael Florkowski Jr (1946), Thomas Florkowski (1930), her husband, Virgil ‘Odie’ Bean (2003), her son Joseph Anthony Bean (2001), son-in-law Thomas Brannon (2008), grandchildren Victoria Nevarez (2007) and Taylor Bean (2009).
Services will be held on the following dates;
Tuesday, April 27, 4:00-6:00PM Visitation followed by a 6:00PM Rosary
Olinger Highland Cemetery, 10201 Grant Street, Thornton, CO 80229
Wednesday, April 28, 10:30AM Funeral Mass
Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, 900 West Midway Blvd, Broomfield, CO 80020
12:00PM Cemetery, Olinger Highland Cemetery, 10201 Grant Street, Thornton, CO 80229
Thank you to all of her caregivers and the medical professionals for taking such good care of her.
