Bea Delane was a vibrant retired teacher, doting grandmother and sports enthusiast when she was diagnosed with Frontal Temporal Dementia over thirteen years ago.  Since this time the village of people that care about her and cared for her watched this horrific disease progressively change both her body and her ability to communicate verbally, however, it never took away the core of who she was, a sweet compassionate woman.  Even when she moved to LiveWell four years ago, she was able to continue to share her warmth and smile, creating special connections with the very special staff that cared for her. 

Please consider making a donation in Bea’s memory to work towards making progress for treatment and a cure. 

CHESHIRE- Benita “Bea” Cardegnio Delane, 87, of Cheshire, CT passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at LiveWell in Plantsville. She was the loving wife of the late John Edward Delane for 29 years until his passing on March 4,1990.

Bea was born on July 20, 1937, in Winsted, CT, daughter of the late Benjamin and Ann (Graziani) Cardegnio. She was raised in Torrington, attended Torrington High School and earned her bachelor’s degree at Skidmore College and St Joseph’s College in Hartford. Bea and John exchanged wedding vows in 1961 and moved to Cheshire, CT where they raised their family. She taught in the Cheshire Public Schools for 35 years until retiring in 2001.

Bea, Mom, Nana, Grandma Bea, Auntie Bea was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother to so many more than her six beloved grandchildren. Although she may be best known for her cookies, being a fashionista especially when it came to shoes, and an avid UConn fan, Bea’s heart and compassion especially for children was her strongest quality.  Bea quietly (unless she was watching a UConn game) moved through life leaving a piece of her warm heart with everyone she encountered. 

In addition to teaching, Bea volunteered her time raising money for the John Delane Memorial Scholarship, Relay for Life, and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. After John passed, Bea found comfort spending time in Charlestown, RI with her family and friends, traveling and enthusiastically watching and attending UConn games and cheering on the Giants and Yankees.  Nana Bea loved to attend any sporting event or other activities her grandchildren were participating in; proudly cheering them on and smiling as she watched yet another Christmas concert.

Bea was fortunate to surround herself with many special friends; some dating back to grammar school. She enjoyed her days in “Happy Valley”, the special people she met on Greenwood Drive and her very special teaching friends.   

Bea leaves behind her daughter, Karen Delane Allard, and her husband, Thomas, of Cheshire, and her son, Kevin Delane Sr., and his wife, Suzanne, of Rye, N.Y. She will also be missed by her grandchildren, Ben Allard and his wife Taylor, Jordan Delane, Kelly Delane Cho and her husband Justin, Jacqueline Allard, Ryan Madeline Delane, KJ Delane Jr., her brother Richard Cardegnio and his wife Terri and her many nieces, nephews, and godchildren.