Celebrant Pam Meily Vetter


	Celebrating Life Everyone Has A Story...

Aurore "Mitzi" Bebee was born in 1940 to Aurore and Joseph Coughlin in Springfield, Massachusetts. Mitzi was the seventh born child in the middle of 14 children. In many ways, she was the boss and leader of the family. She had a good childhood and was close to her siblings. She graduated from high school in Springfield and considered running for Miss Massachusetts, but thought the judges were male chauvinists and didn't run. She married her first husband, Tom, and moved to California when she was 23-years-old. The couple had two wonderful children: Donna and Tommy. Unexpectedly, her husband died in early 1968. It was very difficult, but Mitzi continued working hard while also caring for her children.

Six months later she met 26-year-old Bruce Bebee in December 1968. Bruce and a friend were leaving a nightclub, when Mitzi and Jeanie were walking in. Bruce saw Mitzi and said, "Hi, beautiful!" Mitzi responded by saying to her friend Jeanie, "What did he say?" Then Mitzi responded by saying, "Hey, where are you going, come back in?" The couple hit it off, but Mitzi and her brother Andy and her two children left for Massachusetts the very next day. Between the cold weather and snow, Mitzi came back to California three months later. When she returned, they started dating. Bruce remembers she was beautiful saying, "I never met a woman until Mitzi that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, someone strong enough to take care of me and my family." The kids also loved him. Tommy asked him one day, "Will you be my Dad?" Tommy broke the ice and Mitzi proposed to Bruce. He said, "Yes." The couple married in a Hawthorne Church in September 1969. Two weeks later, Mitzi filed for an annulment. She offered a creative argument in court while appearing before the judge to gain that annulment. The couple was only separated 10 days and one year later in 1970, they married for a second time in Las Vegas. The couple welcomed their son, Bruce Jr., in 1971. With three children, their family was complete. The kids had a wonderful childhood, even enjoying a pet terrier, Sugar, for 18 years. Mitzi and Bruce Sr. were always there for the kids and each other. Every time Bruce Sr. found his bags packed on the porch, he carried them back inside, unpacked them and then gave Mitzi a big hug, things were fine again. The couple has been together for 40 years. They were truly best friends and partners as they worked together 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. In their first company, he designed the equipment and she ran the business. When they started their second business Night Lights by Bebee in 1990, Mitzi ran the operation as the Co-Founder and CEO.

While Mitzi worked hard, she also made sure the kids were always taken care of as she was a wonderful mother with a terrific sense of humor. Mitzi and Bruce never argued in front of the kids. As a mom, she was very much a peacekeeper. She treated each one of her kids as an individual. She knew their personalities and she nurtured each child differently. Mitzi pushed her kids to do better and as a result, they did. She was so proud of Donna, Tommy and Bruce Jr. and supported their interests. When Tommy played baseball, Mitzi worked the concession stands. She also liked watching Bruce Jr. play soccer. She and Donna had a special relationship and really grew into friends as adults. She was a great mom, who also took her kids skiing to Mammoth. Mitzi was involved in everything as she attended every event, every graduation and every wedding. She even went to the hospital every time a grandchild was born. She raised her children and gave them wings to fly.

In life, everyone was a friend until they proved otherwise. While she always worked, she balanced life with fun especially in Las Vegas. Presidents of hotels made sure to talk to her and she was flown by private jets to Las Vegas. She was a successful woman in Vegas who could read people and machines. On many occasions, she predicted which machine would make her a winner. She won many jackpots throughout her exciting gambling career. She was not a typical poker player, but an unorthodox player. More than once, she was late for a private plane, because she was on a winning streak. Mitzi and Bruce had fun beyond the casinos as well. One time in Las Vegas for a Halloween party, she had Bruce Sr. dress in black tights as Sir Lancelot. They won the first prize. Mitzi was a big tipper, giving tips much higher than average. She took care of people wherever she went. For New Year's Eve one year, she tipped the waiter $100 to take care of them. Bruce said to her, "Don't you think that was a bit excessive?" She replied back to Bruce Sr., "No, that was your $100."

Mitzi was nice to everybody and she loved everyone. She was a woman who stood up for herself, with strong character. She didn't take anything from anyone. She ran the family and the business. The hardest part of her life was losing her sister, Mary. But, the best part of her life was always family. She made an impact on so many lives and encouraged other people's successes. If people wanted to leave the company, she told them to "go for it and if it doesn't work, you can always come back." She worked hard and earned the respect and love of everyone.

With her grandchildren, Mitzi doted on them. She loved to watch them play. She always remembered birthdays and made sure to send each one of them cards. She loved to make people laugh, especially with jokes such as "In 1492, Columbus lost his shoe…" She enjoyed listening to love songs of the 70s and she liked doing crossword puzzles. Her favorite color was sunflower yellow. A feisty lady, she kept life interesting and everybody she met loved her. She enjoyed life starting off her mornings with a coffee and a cigarette. At restaurants, Mitzi liked to order the dessert first, especially enjoying lemon meringue pie.

Mitzi and Bruce Sr. really complimented each other at home and in work. Her administrative skills helped build the business as she handled the customers. To Mitzi, everyone really was family. She loved people unconditionally. She liked being able to help others with Bruce Sr., and she was always giving. While Mitzi was sweet, she was also straight-forward. She had an incredible memory and it always helped in business because she was always able to personalize names and dates and events with her business contacts and make them feel like family. She was meticulous about her work as a good businesswoman should be. It will take at least two people to eventually replace her because she put her heart and soul into every thing she did. She went above and beyond for every customer always making them feel special and appreciated. Success was a direct result of Mitzi's dedication.

In the end, she nodded her head goodbye to her husband, Bruce Sr. as she knew the end was near. She was surrounded by family as she passed peacefully. As she believed in God, her family believes she is at peace and they will be reunited again one day. Mitzi will be best remembered as sweet, loving, caring, intelligent and intuitive. She enjoyed life and always got along with people and kept the peace. She was a strong believer in marriage and she and Bruce Sr. always thought it would pay off sooner or later, and it did every day. Bruce Sr. will miss everything about her, especially her company. Whether out on a drive or just sitting together she was always a good listener. She was a great partner, great wife, and great mother. Bruce Sr. said, "I would not be where I am today without her. She was my other half. She was the rock for all of us." Her husband, her children and grandchildren were the loves of her life.

Mitzi was grateful for her life, saying "Someone up there loves us." Her last words would have been: "It's been fun. I love you all!"

Mitzi was preceded in death by her parents Aurore and Joseph; husband Tom; and siblings Mary, Wilfred, and Joseph. She is loved and remembered by her husband Bruce Sr.; daughter Donna and her husband Wally; son Tommy and his wife Minerva; son Bruce Jr. and his wife Julie; grandchildren Jenna, Rebecca, Rochelle, Brooke, Aaron, Kai, and Shealyn; siblings Andrew, William, Theresa, Warren, Daniel, Johnny, Elizabeth, Kathleen, Raymond, and Connie; extended relatives and many friends.

For more information about Mitzi Bebee visit www.NightLightsByBebee.com.