MOUNT VERNON — Sarah Porro Reddy Bean, age 91, of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, died at 3 a.m. on January 13, 2024, at Stonebridge Memory Care Center in Mt. Vernon. She was born on May 23, 1932, in West City, IL, to Michael and Bernice Porro.
Sarah lived her entire life in Illinois, spending her early years in and around the Zeigler and Buckner areas and graduating from Zeigler High School in 1950. She married Robert (Bob) Reddy of Zeigler in 1951, and they later moved to Joliet, where they raised their five children. After Bob died in 1969, Sarah moved back to Southern Illinois to be closer to her extended family. In 1974, Sarah married Floyd Bean of Mt. Vernon. Sarah and Floyd were married for 36 years, until his death in 2010.
In the 1970’s, Sarah sold real estate in Franklin and Jefferson Counties. She later worked for several years at Mt. Vernon Neon, becoming their very first female glass bender.
An accomplished baker and cook, Sarah loved entertaining, reading cookbooks, and trying new recipes. She enjoyed a good garage sale and spent many hours refinishing antique furniture. She was an avid gardener and loved to fish for bluegill in Rend Lake. She enjoyed traveling and looked forward to new experiences. In 2012, at the age of 80, she traveled to New York with a disaster relief team to serve coffee and meals to those affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Sarah is survived by five children, Michael (Barbara) Reddy of Webster, NY, Jo Ann (David) Howard of Grapeland, TX, Vicki Bell of Mt. Vernon, Jeanne McDowell of Mt. Vernon, and John Reddy of Douglasville, GA, as well as five stepchildren, Lloyd (Debbie) Bean of Mt. Vernon, Kevin (Jill) Bean of Mt. Vernon, Genese (Rick) Sink of Gulf Shores, AL, Greg (Sharon) Bean of Dix, and Kent (Amanda) Bean of Mt. Vernon. In addition, she is survived by eight grandchildren, twelve step-grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, numerous step-great-grandchildren, and several great-great-grandchildren.
Sarah is also survived by her identical twin sister, Jo Ann Slack of Zeigler, her sister Kathy Hankins of Marion, and numerous nieces and nephews throughout Southern Illinois.
Sarah was preceded in death by her beloved husbands, Bob Reddy and Floyd Bean, her parents, Michael Porro of Benton and Bernice (Cockrum) Porro of Zeigler, her aunt and uncle, John and Kate (Porro) Boscardin, her grandmother, Giovanna Porro, her sister, Lorene Ellis, and her daughter-in-law, Deborah Reddy.
Sarah leaves the legacies of perseverance, hard work, and hospitality to her descendants.
Visitation will be held from 5 – 7 p.m. on Sunday, January 21, at Hughey Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, January 22, at 11 a.m. at Vantrease-Pyle Funeral Home in Zeigler, with Reverand David Howard officiating. Visitation at Vantrease-Pyle Funeral Home will be held from 10 – 11 a.m., prior to the funeral. Burial will follow at Zeigler Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mt. Vernon Baptist Temple.
Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.