Mary Anna Beaston

Born: 6/4/1925 Died: 2/19/2012 Mary Anna (Ryan) Beaston, known fondly as “Omi” and “Bear,” age 86, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, February 19, 2012. A longtime resident of Delaware City, she recently resided at Broadmeadow Nursing Home in Middletown, where she received wonderful care and enjoyed interacting with the entire staff. Mary was born on June 4, 1925 in Philadelphia, PA, daughter of Herman W. Ryan and Ada Mae (Ellis) Ryan. The family moved frequently due to Herman’s work for the Pennsylvania Railroad, before finally settling in Wilmington. Between her graduation from P.S. DuPont High School and starting her family she was employed with the former Hercules Corporation. After the untimely death of her husband, Julian Claude Beaston, she worked for the former Wilmington Trust Company while raising her five children. Following her retirement after 22 years and while still in good health, she greatly enjoyed traveling with family and friends visiting Alaska, Hawaii, and most of the continental United States. She collected coffee mugs, bells, and bears in her travels. She was a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Delaware City and had accepted Christ as her Savior. She was a Past Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star. She also enjoyed cooking, sewing, crocheting, playing pinochle, and solving crossword puzzles. In addition to her parents and husband, Mary was preceded in death by her siblings, Charles, James, Ellis, and Betty, and a son, Donald. She is survived by her children, Steven (Marcelle) of Delaware City, William (Bonnie) of Townsend, Thomas (Denise) of Middletown, and Claudia (Rick) of Bellevue, NE; 14 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren, all of whom were a great joy to her. Visitation will be held from 6 pm to 8 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 214 Clinton Street, Delaware City. A funeral service will be held at 10 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012, at Christ Episcopal Church, 222 Clinton Street, Delaware City, followed by a lunch reception at the Dragon Run Park Building on Madison Street in Delaware City. Interment will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mary may be made to the Sunday Breakfast Mission, P.O. Box 352, Wilmington, DE 19899.