Kay B. Dubuque

Lebanon, NH -- Kay (Bean) Dubuque went to ride her beloved horses in heaven on Christmas Eve, 2025, surrounded by her family at Jack Byrne Center for Palliative & Hospice Care in Lebanon. Kay was 83 years of age.

Kay was born in Hanover, New Hampshire, to Milton "Mike" A. Bean and Madeleine (Lord) Bean on December 4, 1942. She grew up at the end of a dead-end road where her dad ran a flower shop. She had three sisters, one of whom, Sally Lee lived only to the age of 5 or 6 due to hydrocephalus. Kay attended the Norwich and Hanover school systems.

She met the love of her life, Thomas Dubuque at Sunset Rock in Lebanon on a double date with sister Polly and Tommy Regione. Kay and Thomas were married a short time later on December 17, 1960, in Lebanon and soon after began raising a family. Kay held a few jobs before retiring to focus on raising her boys, which became a full-time job in itself.

In her spare time, she enjoyed knitting, quilting, and gardening. After a brief relocation from Etna NH to West Palm beach Florida, the family settled in downtown Lebanon in 1968. In 1977, the family moved to Daisy Hill in Lebanon, where there was enough room to reignite her first and true love… horses. She was able to ride on their 18-acre parcel and venture onto the nearby Oregon Trail network with friends. Along with horses, Kay and Tom also raised many farm animals, including ducks, geese, chickens, pigs, and cows. She was very fond of these critters and treated them like family., She also kept the local wild birds, especially the crows, which got All the table scraps, and squirrels well fed. Her favorite animals were her dogs and cats. They had the run of the house.

Kay was a fantastic cook, with many specialties made from scratch-some without ever looking at a recipe. She was known for her quick wit and sparkling eyes that would twinkle when she was being sarcastic, funny, or telling one of her famous stories. Tom and Kay reached the milestone of 65 years of marriage on December 17 just prior to her passing.

Kay was predeceased by her parents and sisters, Pollyanna Johnson and Sally Lee. She is survived by her husband, Thomas; sons Thomas II and partner Elizabeth Borowsky, James, Joe and wife Stacey, all of Lebanon, NH; sister Patricia Mercer of Orange, NH; grandchildren David and wife Ashelynn of Spring Lake, North Carolina, and Lily of Barre, VT; along with step-grandchildren Ashlynn, Zoe, and Richie.

At Kay's request, there will be no public calling hours. A small family gathering was held at Ricker Funeral Home in Lebanon shortly after her passing.

To leave a message of remembrance or condolence, please visit the online guestbook at www.rickerfuneralhome.com.