Beatrice Ann (VanOstrand) Wanamaker of Upper Nyack, NY passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 in Nyack, NY of natural causes. She recently celebrated her 90th birthday with her loving family.

Beatrice was born on December 3, 1928 in Detroit, Michigan to James Milton VanOstrand and Beatrice (Henderson) VanOstrand. Bea was the first born of ten children. She lived most of her childhood in Spring Valley. She graduated from Spring Valley High School in 1947 where she enjoyed playing the saxophone in the band. While in high school, she was also crowned Miss Dale Farms, showcasing her talents playing the piano and singing “All My Love”. She proudly graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas College in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, which was a lifelong goal of hers.

Beatrice is predeceased by her loving husband of sixty years, Wilbur (Web) Wanamaker, Sr.
She caught his eye at Requa Lake, where he worked as a lifeguard, fell in love and were married on September 3, 1949 at the Spring Valley Reformed Church. They lived their entire fairytale marriage on Castle Heights Ave. in Upper Nyack, NY where they raised their five wonderful children.

Bea is also predeceased by her brothers James M. VanOstrand,Jr. and Arthur D. VanOstrand and her sisters Margaret (Stegmayer) Isgro and Sharon VanOstrand.

Beatrice was hired in April of 1965 as the Court Clerk for the Upper Nyack Justice Court. With dedication and faithfulness, she held this position for 45 years serving many judges.
She also worked as a playground supervisor for the Upper Nyack Elementary School, as a substitute teacher for the Nyack Public School System and swim instructor for the Nyack YMCA.

Bea was also a dedicated lifelong member of the Nyack Reformed Church serving many years as a choir member, Sunday School Teacher, and always helping with the pageant, coffee hours, Mother- Daughter Dinners and the Morning Music Club, usually with her wonderful, lifelong friend Helen Weishaar.

She spent many years volunteering at the Grace Thrift Shop and for the Girl Scouts of Rockland County. Bea was also a dedicated volunteer for the Republican Party in Upper Nyack serving for more than 50 years. In 2002, she had the opportunity to personally meet with President George W. Bush, where he thanked her for her hard work and dedication.

Bea loved spending time with her family on Cape Cod camping at Nickerson State Park, clamming in the bay and going to Nauset Beach in Orleans. She also loved to read and traveled extensively throughout the country and to Europe with her husband, Web, to visit loved ones and to attend Army Air Corp. Reunions.

Most of all, Beatrice was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother. She will be greatly missed by all.

Bea is survived by her five children- Wilbur Wanamaker, Jr. and his wife Ann of Cherry Hill, NJ; Donald J. Wanamaker and his wife Debra of Suffern, NY; Eddie Wanamaker of Harwich, MA; Nancy B. (Wanamaker) McIver and her husband, Jeffrey O. McIver, Sr. of Holderness, NH and Thomas A. Wanamaker and his wife Mary of Blauvelt, NY.

She is also lovingly survived by her 16 Grandchildren and 11 Great-Grandchildren.

She will be missed by her five surviving siblings- Carol Tomovick of Saratoga Springs, NY; Faye Loriaux of Heiskell, Tennessee; Earle VanOstrand, Sr. of New Smyrna Beach, FL; Holly VanOstrand of Edgewater, FL and Lee Cacioppo-Rodriguez of Mohegan Lake, NY.

She will also be missed by her dedicated caregivers Amanda Amador and Olive Lawrence.

Visiting hours will be held at Hannemann’s Funeral Home, 88 S. Broadway, Nyack, N.Y. on Monday, January 14th from 4-8 pm.
A funeral service is scheduled for 10am on Tuesday, January 15th at the First Reformed Church of Nyack. Donations may be sent to the First Reformed Church of Nyack for the Organ Fund at 18 S. Broadway, Nyack, N.Y. 10960 or the Alzheimer's Association at 301 N. Main St, Suite #7, New City, NY 10956.