Beatrice T Vasquez

Beatrice "Bea" T (nee Mendoza) Vasquez, age 86, of Munster, IN passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 27, 2023. Bea was the loving wife to the late Frank Vasquez; beloved mother to Margaret (Larry Mayer) Winterhaler, Michael Vasquez and Marla Vasquez; fond former mother-in-law to Joseph Winterhaler; proud grandmother to David (Sami Esseddiqi) Estrada, Aaron (Grace Gaylord) Estrada, Alyssa (Zach Stubitsch) Winterhaler, Christopher Vasquez, Lauren Vasquez, Patrick Winterhaler and Christopher (Brittany) Winterhaler; great-grandmother to many; cherished sister to Margaret "Delia" Steele, Adeline "Dell" Tarrant, the late Butch Mendoza, the late Alice "Sarca" Levy; as well as many dear nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends. Bea was an affable people person who loved music, dancing, cooking, entertaining and traveling. She enjoyed taking exotic trips with her husband Frank and their family, visiting the Mexican Yucatan jungles, pyramids and beaches long before resorts were there. Bea loved making tamales and other Mexican dishes with her sisters. She was a classy lady who was always impeccably dressed and was loved by family, friends and, most recently, by her caretakers at Franciscan Pace and Spring Mill Health Campus, where she was nicknamed “The Mayor” because of her friendly nature. Bea worked in the medical staff offices at St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago for over 20 years. She retired from Community Hospital in Munster as director of medical staff services after many years at the hospital. Visitation will be Friday, January 5, 2024, from 9 am until the time of her celebration of life services at 11:00 am Kuiper Funeral Home (9039 Kleinman Road in Highland). Memorials may be given towards Franciscan pace program or Spring Mill Health Campus.