Regina J. (Lopes) Bieg

Regina “Jean” Bieg will be remembered as a constant and loving matriarch. She was born October 8th, 1935 to Manuel and Bella Lopes, older sister to David Lopes.

She lived to see her three children, Cheryl Brown, Robin Smith, and Scott Bieg each raise families of their own; Cheryl with Frank Bragantin, who continued to be a stalwart presence in Jean’s life, raised Frank and Alex Bragantin, Robin raised Kathleen and James Gunderson, and Scott with his wife, Sonja, who also cared for Jean after Scott’s passing, raised Greta and Anika Bieg.

She was blessed to see her first great grandchild thanks to Alex and his wife Sarah, who, along with the knowledge her name would live on in her forthcoming great-granddaughter, brought so much joy and vibrancy to her last few years.

She grew up and remained in Fall River her entire life, outside of numerous trips to Disney World and Portugal, living with her husband Earl Bieg until he passed in 2010.

She was a devout Catholic, watching Mass almost every day. Besides her continuous role as mother, she was also a Special Education teacher in the Fall River school district for over 30 years after receiving her Masters in teaching from Bridgewater State. She instilled a love of learning, travel and reading in her children, all of whom went on to teach. Jean was lucky enough to spend a hale Thanksgiving with her family before suffering a stroke and passing painlessly the evening of Sunday, December 4th, 2022.

Apologies to Dr Seuss

We will love her here and there,

We will love her anywhere.

Our mom who left the starting gate, to earn her Master's was her fate.

She loved her girls, she loved her boys, she loved her Jackson --and all his toys!

She craved her ice cream, cakes and pies, and saw us through all troubled skies.

What will CNN do, or her sports teams ...She'll shout and cheer from a far it seems.

We loved her when she slowed her pace, and even when we "got the face."

Though nothing will be quite the same, like me, a new child will share her name.

And I will love you here and there, this group that showed her loving care.

Oh yes she loved Green Eggs and Ham. Yes she loved them Sam I am.

She loved Seuss and all his kind, and just like them, she was sharp of mind.

Yes we will love her here and there --

We will love her anywhere.

Robin Jean Smith
December 18/2022