Obituary: Beatrice 'Bea' O'Toole

The following is from Joyce Funeral Home.

Mrs. Beatrice E. "Bea" (Baldaro) O'Toole, of Waltham, died on Thursday, March 13, 2014 at Maristhill Nursing Home. She was 86.

She was born Oct. 13, 1927 in Waltham, a daughter of the late Frederick and Beatrice (Hall) Baldaro and was a graduate of Waltham High School. Like many young men and women her age, she worked for many years at the former Waltham Watch Factory prior to marriage and then stayed at home to raise her children.

For a short period, she lived in Wayland where she was active at the Wayland Senior Club and worked as a volunteer in its Meals on Wheels program. Throughout her life, she loved to read and follow New England sports, either on radio or television. Social by nature, she loved music and the company of her late husband, Bill, on the dance floor. A talented baker, she was famous for her fudge and signature recipe called "crazy cake."

When dementia set in over six years ago, she transitioned to living at The Providence House in Brighton where her care was exceptional. She excelled in its Beechwood program and it provided her the quality of life one could only hope for. In later years, she became quite a story teller, to family and friends, and it was a blessing to hear her retell the many stories of early years. She will be missed.

In addition to her husband, William E. O'Toole, who died July 25, 1978, she is predeceased by her siblings, Frederick and John Baldaro and her twin, Betty Thorne.

She leaves her children, Karen A. O'Toole-Vinciulla of Waltham, W. Kevin O'Toole and his wife, June, of Waltham and Richard F. O'Toole of Wells, Maine; her grandchildren, Charles 'Chuck' Vinciulla and his wife, Mechelle, Jeffrey Vinciulla and his wife, Kara, Kevin O'Toole and his wife, Cyndi, Timothy O'Toole and his wife, Laura, Erin Raines and her husband, Derek, and Kelley O'Toole; her great-grandchildren, Cody, Chase, Dean, Andrew, Christopher, Libby, Timothy, Brendan, Teagan, Jackson, Violet and Ireland; her siblings, Jane McCulloch of Palm Beach, Fla., Joy Bonner of Concord and Bruce Baldaro and his wife, Eleanor, of Rutland and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember Beatrice's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main St. (Route 20), Waltham, on Tuesday, March 18, from 4-8 p.m. and again on Wednesday morning when her funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Providence House, The Beechwood Program, 180 Corey Road, Brighton, MA 02135.