Colchester - Penny Marie Bean, 54, died unexpectedly on Tuesday November 15, 2016 in Moretown.
Penny was born on October 9, 1962 in Burlington, the daughter of Burton "Butch" and Fran (Lamphere) Bean.
She graduated from Milton High School in 1980.
Penny devoted the majority of her time to food service in a number of capacities, from ownership of a catering company, to running local delis, as well as managing kitchens for large food service corporations in Vermont and Florida. In the not so distant past, Penny could be seen throughout the community flipping burgers at the Champlain Valley Fair for the Lion's Club, decorating bikes for kids for the Essex Memorial Day Parade, or singing at a local church. Most recently, she could be found peddling maple syrup that she and her partner Ron made in their Moretown Sugarhouse; with weathered hands devoted to the transformation of concrete and raw wood into a beautiful mountain home.
Along with a reputation as a tireless worker, Penny was well known for her larger than life personality. She loved to laugh and brought joy to the people around her. Wearing wild hats or an artificial nose was not unusual to say the least. She was compassionate and giving, and willing to go out of her way to help anyone regardless of the circumstance. Above all, Penny was kindhearted and loving to anyone she encountered. She put her heart and soul on the line over and over again, asking for very little in return. As a mom, daughter, sister, grandma, and true friend, she will be missed.

She is survived by her longtime companion and best friend Ron Papineau of Colchester and Moretown by her loving daughter Jessica Moquin and her husband Shawn of Milton, her granddaughter Avery Moquin, her mother Fran Bean of Milton, and her brothers and sisters Paul Bean and his wife Natalie of Fairfax, Sherri Morin and her husband Michael of Underhill, Scott Bean and his wife Amy of Lyndonville, and Stacey Endres and her husband Kevin of Milton, by Ron's daughter Tonya Poutry of North Hero, and by several nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be held on Monday, November 21, 2016 from 3-6 pm with a Memorial Service held at 6 pm in the Minor Funeral and Cremation Center in Milton.