Beatrice ‘Bea’ (Aldrich) Nelson of Derby, passed peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family on October 22, 2021, 1 week shy of her 77th Birthday.
Born up the hill from her own home on the Aldrich family farm, Bea was raised at a young age after her parents passed by a group of beloved Aunts. Being the only girl, she was nicknamed “sister”. During this time, she attended various schools and college achieving a degree that led to a life-long passion of teaching. She became a wealth of knowledge in family history and lore, knowing not only of rural Living in VT, but also of their family heritage.
Bea was fascinated by nature, gardening, wild things and loved feeding her birds and her ‘chippees’. She started her own studio called ‘Bea’s Hive’, producing custom paintings for clients, and signage for individuals and businesses alike. She taught art lessons and started ‘Derby Dabblers’, teaching others to paint. Bea’s love of family ties led her to become the family genealogist and researcher of local histories on both sides of the American and Canadian border. Bea found herself working as a consultant for many projects across northern VT. Her willingness to share her knowledge won over many people and opened as many doors. She was an accepted Abenaki tribal member in western VT. She was an active member of the Holland Historical Society, Lake Memphremagog steering Committee and the Derby Chamber of Commerce. She organized, with the help of a few other people many nonprofit projects: The ‘Intertribal Women’s Hoop’ which promoted Abenaki awareness, family traditions, and strengthened the ties that held a community together. They developed a craft co-op that traveled to various pow wows and events, plus they had the first Abenaki and Intertribal library for adults and children. Bea developed, wrote, edited, and produced a newsletter (pre computer) that she mailed out to subscribers eager for what she was producing. Later as more people wanted to become involved, and the Abenaki community were willing to be more visible, the nonprofit became the ‘Alnobak Nebesakiak (or Nebesak)’. She continued to host gatherings, travel with several Drums to events and universities in both Canada and New England, continuing to produce community newsletters, calendars with original artwork, and also a newsletter specifically for children called N’agizi. With Beas stories and craft projects, the newsletters became a much relied upon resource for many people of all ages, and schoolteachers, who at that time was just starting to teach about the Abenaki that were (and are) in Vermont. She was invited to present at various historical societies, colleges, elementary schools, Coutts camp, Boy Scouts, and interviewed many times for various projects. She co-authored several books: “Around Lake Memphremagog” and “Holland Vermont and its Neighbors”. Bea also authored articles for the ‘Northland Journal’. Gregory Sharrow, folklorist of the Vermont Folklife Center discussed a possibility of whether a film could be produced featuring the Abenaki people of Vermont. Bea, along with a close Abenaki friend, developed and implemented a plan to involve as many volunteer Abenaki as possible on a panel to do the interviewing, and reviewing
This became a five-year volunteer project, with both a film and teacher guide being produced and available to purchase at the Vermont Folklife Center, called ‘the Abenaki in Vermont, a Living Culture’. Bea was welcomed at many reserves in New England and in Canada including Odanak, maintaining her contacts to this day.
A few years later the Nebesak evolved into the ‘Alnobak Heritage Preservation Center’. She worked with the focus on bringing more awareness and a deeper level of research and commitment towards the Abenaki people. She became a consultant on such things as: State Highway, Dam, Watershed projects including the Clyde River/ Barton Village project, and the Connecticut River project. She worked with Vermont State archeologists to prevent destruction of potential Abenaki burial sites and camping areas on their various projects. She was a consultant, author, and contributing artist for the Abenaki timeline in VT on permanent display at the Emery Hebbard Federal building, the first plaque of the Lake Memphremagog walkway as artist and author, The Northern Forest and Canoe Trail project: supplying them with artwork, maps, and plans recreating the historical canoe waterways. Land Trusts: Bea believed in saving Vermont’s land for future generations, and for the wildlife to thrive with care. After becoming a member of Nulhegan-Coos Band of Abenaki, Bea was thrilled to see the changes that were occurring within the community and the State towards Abenaki culture. Nulhegan- Coos Band of Abenaki became one of four Vermont State recognized Abenaki bands. As a person who was respected for her knowledge, she was honored to have become a ceremonied Elder for Nulhegan, a lifetime position. This was a high honor and her greatest pride~
Bea also continued her passions of painting, gardening, researching, writing, and consulting. Two of her latest projects, involved partnering with the Vermont Land Trust at Bluffside Farms in Newport on both a Three Sisters Garden’, and their new entry bike trail wet lands project and working with the Northwoods Stewardship Center. Her greatest passion was her family. She would drop everything if anyone stopped by, always had the coffee pot on, cookies in the cookie jar and loved talking out on her porch or at her kitchen table.
Bea was predeceased by her husband Roger Nelson in 2019, brothers Bill and Jim (Joyce) Aldrich of Derby, In-laws George(Janet) Nelson of Irasburg, Tom Nelson of Albany, and Ruth Nelson of Washington State.
Bea is survived by her children Bill Nelson of Lyndon and Rebecca ( John) Hardy of Derby; Grandchildren Thomas (Kathleen) Hardy of Derby, John Curtis Hardy( Morgan Blanchard) of Barton, Tessa and Cooper Nelson of Lyndon; Great Grandson Colton Hardy of Derby; brothers Robert ( Betty) Aldrich of Derby, and Dean ( Christie) Aldrich of Derby; several nieces, nephews, and great nieces and great nephews plus many cousins.
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