Beatrice D. Koetter, nee Walker, 69, went to meet her god early in the morning on Thursday September 18, 2025 after a short battle with cancer. Born to the late William and Elizabeth Walker, she grew up in Irwin, PA and Cape May, NJ. After moving around in her youth, Bea settled in Woodbury, CT., where she raised two children, Robyn and Donald, while working at Finest, Voices Newspaper and the Waterbury Republican.

She married Vincent Koetter at the top of the Cape May Lighthouse on the New Jersey Shore. They recently celebrated their 31st anniversary. She welcomed her second son, Joseph, in 1995 and two years later moved to New Mexico. They lived in Belen and then moved to Albuquerque, where they lived for 22 years.

Bea worked for the Albuquerque Public School system in the food service department. Her first assignment was at Highland H.S, then Inez Elementary School where she loved to draw cartoons on the weekly board for the students and truly rejoiced in the smiles it brought to their faces. Her last position was at Del Norte H.S. as 'Head Hairnet." She prided herself on making sure those kids had good fresh food every school day and retired after an enjoyable career. She was an active member of the Christ United Methodist Church in Albuquerque, where she sang in the choir. She had many friends there, especially the late Pat Mahoney, whom she affectionately called Patty Playpal.

She loved all New Mexico had to offer and the culture in the area. She enjoyed making traditional Mexican food and became quite good at it. She liked the weather, the plants, the wildlife, and the scenery. The little family enjoyed the Balloon Festival, the flea market, and Sandia Peak. They traveled to the Grand Canyon, Pikes Peak COG Railway and to Mesa Verde.

They moved back to CT in 2019 to be closer to her older kids and their families. Here she spent time being Mema to Robyn's kids, being there when they got off the bus, taking them to appointments, sports practices, and sneaking them occasional milkshakes before dinner! She traveled to Philadelphia to visit Donald and Therese and be Gramma Bea to Charlie, where they made paper dolls, cooked and spent time together. She was the happiest when planting flowers and had recently joined the Waterbury Gardening Club, growing vegetables in her gardens, feeding, and watching the birds and meeting her neighbors when out walking her dog.

She enjoyed being back in CT visiting old friends, Cyndi Jaret, Patty Morgan, and in laws Donna Vaughn and Thelma Dostie. We were thrilled to have her back home! Bea was a great wife, a fun and loving mom and Grandma, and a true friend. She will be so very missed.

She leaves behind her husband Vincent Koetter, her children Robyn Dostie Esposito (Peter Antippas), Donald Dostie (Therese Anctil), and Joseph Koetter. Her grandchildren Chelsea Sainsbury (Jakub Kocztorz), Gabrielle and Franklyn Esposito, and Charlie Dostie. Her siblings Bonnie and Blythe Walker, many cousins, nieces and nephews, and her little dog Hoochie Moochie Poochie.

Per Bea's wishes, the services were private. In lieu of flowers please consider memorial donations to a charity of your choice. The family would like to thank the Leever Cancer Center for giving us hope, Glendale Rehabilitation center for their care, Waterbury Hospital Surgical ICU for their absolute kindness, and the staff at Munson Lovetere Funeral Home who afforded us the time to quietly say goodbye.

To leave an online condolence for the family please visit www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com

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