Obituary of Polly Anne Bekaert

Polly Anne (Bowes) Bekaert, 88, of Old Lyme, CT passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, November 21^st 2023.  She is survived by her daughter Mary Casey Pike, her son John Paul and her nieces Robin Brown and Faye Pello and nephew Todd Dupuis and their respective extended families.  She is pre-deceased by her husband Eugene Charles, her son Peter Charles, her sister Carol Lou Dupuis, her brother-in-law Edmond William Dupuis, her mother Margaret Casey Bowes and her father Donald Bowes her Uncle James Bowes and Rosemary Fay.

Miss Polly was born October 18, 1935 in North Adams, MA.  After graduating from Drury High School,  She moved to NYC and attended NYU to study  Liberal Arts and Business.  After graduating and while working at Milliken Industries she was invited to be model and worked at several fashion shows.  This is where she met her future husband Eugene.  They were happily married on October 31, 1959 (yes, they were married on Halloween) and remained so until Eugene’s passing on October 25, 2020. 

During their 63 years together Polly and Eugene would travel often across the United States and the world following the fashion shows that Eugene was involved in.  They settled in Summit, NJ to raise their children where Miss Polly also worked in fashion retail.   

It was in 1968 that they purchased a cottage at White Sand Beach in Old Lyme, CT.   It was here that Miss Polly used to spend her summers with her family as a child and would continue to do so with her own family.  

After his retirement Polly and Gene moved to North Charleston, SC at Coosaw Creek.  It was while in SC that Miss Polly became involved with NAMI (National Association for the Mentally Ill).  She would go into prisons to interview inmates on death row that had severe mental issues.  She soon became President of the NAMI SC chapter and even met then Senator Ted Kennedy to raise funds and awareness about this debilitating disease that affects so many people across the world.  She also enjoyed attending Bible Study with her friends and neighbors at Coosaw Creek. In the summer they would return to Old Lyme to spend wonderful times with family and their many friends.  Then Polly and Gene decided to make Old Lyme, CT their permanent residence. Miss Polly started a book club for all of the “ladies” and enjoyed many wonderful afternoons with the “ladies” at the beach and their many social events.  

Friends and family are invited to calling hours on Saturday (Dec 2) from 10:00 – 11:00 AM at Christ the King Church, 1 McCurdy Rd. Old Lyme. Burial will follow in Duck River Cemetery, 12 McCurdy Rd. Old Lyme.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to your local Hospice, NAMI or Alzheimer’s organizations.