Beatrice Dante, 83, of Churchville, Maryland, passed away on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Born in Elkton, Maryland, she was the daughter of the late John Edward Caldwell, Sr. and Mary B. (Dunn) Caldwell.

Beatrice was the beloved wife of James G. Dante, with whom she shared 59 years of marriage. She was a devoted mother to James F. (Lori) Dante, Michael P. (Cathy) Dante, David A. Dante, and Melissa D. Desi. She was a loving grandmother to James E. (Allison) Dante, Julianna M. Dante, and Samantha G. Desi, and a cherished great-grandmother to Harper J. Dante, James Declan Dante, and Oliver B. Dante. She loved deeply her “daughters in heart,” Lori and Cathy, as well as Ron Desi.

Beatrice lived by her personal motto, “Faith, family and friends,” which was evident in every aspect of her life. She had a gift for connection—she loved talking, gathering, and making others feel welcome. To her, no one was a stranger. She was attentive, a wonderful listener, and deeply compassionate, always striving to ensure those around her felt loved and valued.

Beatrice was a woman of deep faith and rich spirituality. A devoted Catholic, she volunteered at St. Joan of Arc Church and later at St. Margaret Church. She believed strongly in the value of lasting love and dedicated time to supporting couples through the church as a Marriage Sponsor Couple with her husband, helping guide others toward strong and enduring marriages. She also supported people through the RCIA (OCIA) process.

Beatrice was a passionate advocate for the visually impaired. She and her husband successfully initiated Harford County Public Schools’ low and no vision program for students who are blind, later supporting students as a volunteer. Professionally, she worked as a medical secretary for Dr. Warren Lesch for over 30 years, where she was known for her dedication and compassion.

She found great joy in life’s simple pleasures, whether spending time with family and friends, making spaces beautiful, or enjoying the wonders of nature. A highlight was gathering with her family in Cape May, New Jersey for over 40 years.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings, D. Howard Caldwell, Thomas Caldwell, William Caldwell, Sr., Dorothy Caldwell, John Caldwell, Jr., Martha Caldwell, and Joanne Wolfe.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Beatrice’s name to the American Heart Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692.