Beatrice A. (Goggin) Halas, 87

Beatrice A. (Goggin) Halas, fondly known as “Bea” to her family and friends, died peacefully on April 3, 2013, in Alexandria, VA, at the age of 87.

Bea was born on June 11, 1925, in Chelsea, MA, she was the cherished daughter of the late William and Annie T. (Sheehy) Goggin.  Bea’s parents immigrated here from Ireland and she was always so proud of her Irish Heritage.  Bea was raised and educated in Chelsea; she attended St. Rose Catholic School for 12 years, graduating in 1943.

Prior to retiring, Bea was a long time employee of the AT & T Company where she worked in Administration.  Bea was a dedicated, hard working employee, and she made many friends with her co-workers throughout the years.

Bea married her “sweetheart” Henry F. “Hank” Halas on October 19.1946, sharing more than 59 years together before his passing in November of 2005.  Bea and Hank resided in Chelsea for many years, where they raised two wonderful children, before moving to Wilmington in 1981.  Beatrice was the devoted mother of Barbara Riley and her husband William of Lorton, VA and James Halas and his wife Kathy of Wilmington.  Cherished grandmother of Dr. Kevin Riley of Los Angeles, CA, Brian Riley and his wife Miho of Culver City, CA, Michael Halas of Boston and Katie Halas and her fiancé Michael Jordon of Wilmington, and loving great-grandmother of Keon and Senan Riley.

Beatrice was the sister of Mary Horgan of Groveland, Eileen Kanarkiewicz of Burlington, and the late James Goggin, William Goggin and Nancy (Goggin) Kelley.

Bea was a woman of great faith, she attended Catholic School, she had a great respect for the nuns, she was an active communicant at St. Rose Parish in Chelsea and when she moved to Wilmington she became very active at St. Dorothy’s Parish for many years.  She was also an active member of Wilmington Senior Center for many years.

Family was first and foremost to Bea, as a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother her devotion and love was unconditional.  Bea loved spending time with her family, celebrating holidays and sharing all of their special events; Bea was very proud of each and every one of them and their accomplishments.  Following the death of her dear Hank, Bea moved to Virginia to be closer to her daughter.

Bea will be remembered as friendly, kind, and caring, she was a great neighbor and a dear friend to many.  She was always there to lend a hand on countless occasions and she will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Family and friends will gather at the Nichols Funeral Home, Inc., 187 Middlesex Ave. (Rt. 62), Wilmington, on Monday, April 8th at 9:00 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Dorothy’s Church, Main St. (Rt. 38), Wilmington  at 10:00 a.m. Interment Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington.  Visiting hours will be held at the Funeral Home on Sunday, April 7th from 2-6 p.m.   Memorial donations in Beatrice’s name may be made to the Sisters of Providence c/o Office of Congregational Advancement, 1 Sisters of Providence, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876 or St. Dorothy’s Church, 11 Harnden St., Wilmington, MA  01887.